COULD I just make clear,right away that I'm not a 'recycling Luddite,' I want our new scheme to work.It will save me taking everything recyclable to the bottle and paper banks as I've done for the last 12 years.

I left out my new wheelie bins a week early on October 28 by mistake. On returning from work I discovered my refuse still in it and all my neighbours bags had gone!

On contacting the department I was told, the binmen were not allowed to reach down inside the wheelie bins as this could result in injury!! After composing myself again I asked why they could not have simply tipped it up and picked up the bags from the floor

This was never explained but the lady did point out that some of the binmen had been reaching down into the bins and taking the bags out "just to keep the public happy" but the council had ordered them to stop.

So here's an alternative scheme:- The householder asks his employer (where applicable) for a half -day holiday on the relevant refuse collection day each week (cost to be born by householder). The householder stands by with hot drinks and a towel, an umbrella - if wet, for the arrival of the "operatives". As they arrive the householder checks prevailing weather conditions and any traffic noise, before carrying out a full "risk assessment" to determine if it is safe for the "operatives" to alight the lorry. They oversee the householder as he/she lifts the wheelie bin onto the lorry for emptying.

If the householder is elderly or infirm,he/she will arrange for a fit relative or friend to be in attendance.

After emptying the bins and taking them back to a safe place inside their property boundary,the householder will return to the lorry to oversee safe access to the warm cab where the operative will carry out the task (after risk assessment) of stamping the word 'MUG' on the householders forehead.

The council may then introduce a further inflation busting council tax rise to cover the cost of ink or just basically because they can!

Mr P Raybould

Bromsgrove