"The title of the Cleansing, Salvage and Transport Department gives some indication of the scope of its activities. Its duties, however, statutory and otherwise, are great in number and in no small way contribute to the welfare and comfort of a population of 274,000 citizens.

The Department collects and disposes of refuse and salvage (Refuse and Salvage services being separate and distinct). It is responsible for the sweeping of streets, the cleansing of street gullies and the removal of snow.

As a transport department it has modern workshop facilities for the maintenance of its own vehicles and those used by other departments of the Corporation. Many of the specialised vehicles have been devised by the department to suit particular classes of work.

Stoke-on-Trent disposes of the whole of its refuse by Controlled Tipping. By this means many areas of low lying and waste land have been reclaimed, and useful playing fields etc. have resulted. In the period of just over a quarter of a century nearly one and three quarter million tons of refuse have been utilised in this manner. The department receives many requests for derelict tracts of land to be treated in this way.

The collection of Salvage, preparation for sale, and the marketing of useful re-usable materials, has been intensively developed by this department. The income from this source has considerably assisted the finances of the Corporation. In the period 1940/56 the sum of £854,979 was received from the sale of 139,458 tons of salvage materials.

With the addition of new housing sites the mileage of roads to be cleansed is growing rapidly. By the end of 1956 this was 273 miles. The good standard of cleanliness of this industrial district is regularly maintained—mechanical means being used extensively to achieve this. Citizens respond reasonably well to the request " Do not litter".

The department is well equipped to deal with snowfalls. The policy of acting promptly on such occasions brings commendation from many road users.

Visitors to the Main Depot at Booth Street, Stoke-on-Trent, express interest and surprise at the activities there—particularly the Salvage Section. Parties are welcomed by arrangement with the Head Office, Booth Street, Stoke-on-Trent. Telephone Nos. 48353 and 48912."