Efficiency Tests and Suggestions

A simple and effective plan for keeping accurate records is a great help in checking up the efficiency of a collecting force. In fact, records are imperative if any attempt is made to operate economically, for the cost is influenced by the many and small details of the work. A systematic record of all complaints should be kept and the activity of each collector should be definitely checked up. Some suggest that complaints should be recorded in a loose leaf ledger and a slip handed to the driver of the particular district from which the complaint comes. As an offset to the citizens’ complaints the ledger should have leaves adjoining giving the reports of the driver. By referring to the ledger the complaint clerk can explain to the citizen why he is not receiving service. Others suggest that records should be kept of the daily, weekly and monthly work of each collector so that work of the various collectors may be equalized. They also suggest that there be recorded for each district the number of loads collected, miles traveled and complaints made. Some suggest a card system with cross index as more convenient than a ledger.

The following scheme has been suggested to check up the amount of work done: W, number of collection wagons; V, capacity of one wagon in cubic feet; F, interval between collection in days; T, time required to collect from one house expressed as part of an hour; C, percentage of working time spent by collectors in the actual time of collecting as distinguished from hauling to and from the point of disposal; D, length of working day in hours; S, number of trips to point of disposal per wagon per day; P, total population; N, average number of people per house; R, daily quantity of refuse per capita-cubic foot; g, daily quantity of garbage per capita-cubic foot; d, daily quantity of rubbish per capita-cubic foot:

Equation No. 1

D × C1
S =× F × N × R × V
T

Equation No. 2

P × R
W ×
S × V

The person making this suggestion says it is frequently easy for a superintendent to determine how much time his collectors are spending unproductively in going to and from the dump. He should also be able, he says, to determine quite accurately the frequency of collection, total refuse, capacity of wagon and average number of trips per wagon per day. With this data he can estimate from Equation No. 1 the time required to collect from one house. If excessive he may find it advisable to secure better cooperation between the collector and the housewife.