ise, he stands little chance of reducing the fly 
population of a community to a control level when 
a nearby dump or insanitary hog farm is a prolific 
breeding ground. Records indicate that flies may 
travel in appreciable numbers from 1 to 4 miles 
from point of origin. However, according to Schoof 
and Siverly, 1954, (41) “The dispersion capacity 
of the mass population is expended within 0.5 to 
2 miles ... 1 mile is the recommended distance 
to which fly control operations should be extended 
outside most communities.” 
Several methods of refuse disposal are being 
widely used in this country. A few others are used 
on a small scale or have been abandoned. Unsatis- 
factory methods will be but briefly discussed while 
satisfactory sanitary disposal procedures are 
worthy of greater consideration. 
Garbage Reduction 
In 1918, garbage reduction, with the salvage of 
grease and tankage, was a method of disposal in 24 
cities with populations of over 90,000. The number 
was reduced to 7 plants in 1942 and 2 in 1952. 
There are a number of reasons why this method of 
garbage disposal has all but gone out of existence 
including the high initial cost and maintenance 
costs, the problem of odors, and the lack of a good 
stable market for grease and tankage. 
Dumping in Water 
This method has had considerable use in the 
past, especially by coastal cities, but on the whole 
has been abandoned. Dumping at sea resulted in 
the littering of shore lines with garbage and rubbish 
and was vigorously opposed by resort cities, both 
as a health and accident hazard and a deterrent to 
the tourist trade. Some of the towns and cities 
located along streams and rivers have often estab- 
lished open dumps along the shores. This method 
contributes to the pollution of the stream with 
liquids leached from the site or with solid refuse 
washed downstream by flooding. 
The Open Dump 
Because it is so cheap and requires little 
planning, if any, the old-fashioned insanitary open- 
dump method of refuse disposal is too frequently 
found in our present day society. Not only does the 
open dump offend the aesthetic sense and give off 
objectional smoke and odors, it also is a very 
important breeding place for rats and flies and may 
produce a considerable number of mosquitoes. 
These vermin are capable of carrying disease to 
man, and constitute a serious nuisance to residents 
of nearby areas. 
Every effort should be made by communities and 
local health authorities to eliminate this health 
menace and eyesore and to replace it with a sani- 
tary and practical method of disposal. 
Burning on Premises 
Low-temperature burning of combustible rubbish 
is frequently used as a method of disposal on the 
individual premise. Some commercial incinerators 
built into large apartment projects may operate 
fairly well. Generally, home or business burning 
that utilizes burning cages or discarded oil drums 
is unsatisfactory. Garbage intentionally or inad- 
vertently placed in these containers is only charred 
in this process, creating odors and permitting con- 
siderable fly breeding in backyards. Small amounts 
of charred garbage may also maintain a light rat 
infestation. The container itself is unsightly and 
the scorched denuded earth around it is frequently 
littered with cans and broken bottles that consti- 
tute an accident hazard to children playing in the 
area. 
Gas-fired residential burners, usually installed 
inside homes, are frequently found in some sections 
of the country. These will burn rubbish and garbage 
without causing a fly or rodent problem but may 
produce some smoke and odor during operation. 
The smoke and odor which contribute to air pollu- 
tion, is frequently an undesirable feature of com- 
monly used methods of home burning. Where air 
pollution is a factor this practice should be dis- 
couraged even where no attempt is made to burn 
garbage. However, in rural areas where no nuisance 
will result, combustible refuse containing no gar- 
bage may be burned in outdoor installations without 
auxilliary fuel and refuse containing garbage may 
be disposed of in gas-fired home burners. 
Hog Feeding 
Feeding garbage to hogs is of considerable 
economic importance in some areas of the United 
States. Today this method is unacceptable to 
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