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Problems of Prosperity

11th September 1964
Page 84
Page 84, 11th September 1964 — Problems of Prosperity
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GREATER bulk-to-weight ratio of refuse, and the increasing quantity of what may be called abnormal and indivisible extras that require disposal, are familiar problems for British cleansing officials. A similar pattern, also brought about by the rising standards of living, is to be found in other parts of Europe. In Amsterdam, items such as superannuated furniture, for which nowadays there is no market, have increased four-fold during the past five years and the cleansing authorities there sometimes supplement the ordinary collection vehicles with lorries which remove the out-of-course articles. The Amsterdam cleansing fleet numbers 90, the majority of the units being DAFs with the NETAM rotating drum compressing system. The bodywork incorporates a separate container for large articles. Comrner is also well represented, the model employed having an 8-ton chassis with the Rootes three-cylinder, two-stroke oil engine and a Geesink body.

At Amsterdam a refuse collection driver and one assistant may move 250 bins an hour, but it must be explained that the containers employed are smaller than the British standard being, in effect, a large pail, and the Dutch housewives have to place them on the kerb-side ready for emptying. Incineration of the 700 tons of refuse collected daily in Amsterdam provides steam which is sold for electricity generating purposes and, among other things, 100 tons of hard ash which finds its way into road surfacing materials. When in the Dutch city recently I was told that a twice-weekly collection was in effect. Generally speaking, the highways I saw were notably well kept. Tidy though the Dutch may be there is always the occasional black sheep, and with the latter gentry around, Amsterdam's famous canals form a vulnerable target for litter.

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Locations: Amsterdam

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