| AdminHistory | The Refuse Disposal Sub-Committee was appointed in November 1911, and its main function included taking responsibility for only street cleaning, the emptying of cess-pools (also called dumb wells), and trade effluents and refuse disposal in the City. The sub-committee was also responsible for other public health matters; for example, they were also paid by the canal companies to collect and destroy dead animals found in the canals. The sub-committee worked closely with the various committees responsible for sanitation and public health provision in Birmingham, since it was from these bodies that its function had originated. The sub-committee was served in this function by the Refuse Department, which was renamed the Salvage Department in November 1918. In November 1958 the sub-committee was disbanded, and it appears its duties reverted to the main Salvage Committee.
The Department maintained numerous refuse tips, both long and short term, with many located outside of city, including Minworth, Dudley Port, Solihull Lodge, Tyburn, Tyseley, Hay Mills, Harborne and later, at California, Greet and Castle Bromwich. Tyseley and Castle Bromwich were still in operation in 1974. There were also several ‘destructor’, or ‘incandescent chimneys', located Montague Street, Handsworth, Nechells, the steam from which supplied power to the Drainage Board and Aston Manor (see BCC/1/AR/4/1/1 Minutes of the Special Sub-Committee (Destructor), which reported to the Health Committee). |