These works, situated in almost the centre of the city, were established
in 1878 for the purpose of dealing with part of the daily collection of
house refuse. The wharf has an area of 17,130 square yards. The main
buildings have an area of 5,277 square yards, exclusive of stabling,
which is here provided for 78 horses out of the total of 206 owned by
the health department. During the year ending December 1896 the various
kinds of refuse collected and disposed of amounted to 199,588 tons, of
which about 80,000 tons were delivered to this wharf. In 1874 the " pan "
system of collection was introduced into Birmingham, and it was
subsequently found necessary to make some portion of the contents into
concentrated manure. On arriving at the wharf the pans are emptied into
tanks, and a small quantity of sulphuric acid is added in order to fix
the ammonia, and to prevent the loss arising from its evaporation under
the action of heat. From the receiving tanks the material is run into
tanks immediately over the drying machines, and provision is made for
charging the drying machines direct from these tanks. There are five
steam drying machines and two hot-air drying machines. After being
properly dried, the concentrated manure is ground in a mill, and is then
ready to be packed in bags and sent away; it contains about 7 per cent.
of ammonia and 7 per cent. of phosphates. Of the dry refuse, part is
riddled in octagonal rotating screens, which separate the fine ash from
the rougher material; the latter is further sorted by removing broken
glass and crockery, brick ends, tin cans, etc. Rags are not picked
out, but are burnt in the furnaces with other combustible matter. Part
of the fine ash is mixed in a pug will with the pan contents, and sold
as manure; it is discharged into boats from the mixing machines. Thirty
cells or furnaces are kept going for burning refuse, and on an average
they get rid of 1,100 tons of refuse per week. The heat produced by its
combustion is utilised for the generation of steam required in the
manure manufacturing process, and for various other purposes; there are
twelve multitubular boilers, and two Galloway boilers. The number of men
employed at this wharf is 242; Mr. William Holt is the superintendent
and engineer.
Glossary
