SIR, — The recent Recycling News from St Albans District Council, albeit useful, was lightweight in detailed technical information concerning the pending changes. The council will need to make the August communication clear, detailed and specific. I hope

SIR, - The recent Recycling News from St Albans District Council, albeit useful, was lightweight in detailed technical information concerning the pending changes. The council will need to make the August communication clear, detailed and specific. I hope they will reduce facile ambiguity such as "your bin won't be chipped" or "rolling out a twin-bin service from September 8 to the end of November".

What constitutes punishable offences needs to be clearly specified. From nationwide press reports, these seem to include lids jammed open, leaving bins outside property at kerb-side or out the night before, bin too heavy to be pulled by one finger, recycling boxes too heavy, use of wrong bin etc etc.

Two points need specific advice. The weight of recycing boxes can become very heavy following a clearout of say glossy magazines or bottles. Specify maximum weight. To avoid open bin lids - if an offence - the tendency is to compress contents down into the bin, especially if springy prunnings etc, and these will cause jamming. Must contents be able to freely fall out by gravity or can some jamming be allowed?

The pending August literature will have done its job competently if no-one has to phone up with queries or log into the internet. The council should not assume availability of the internet. The council should take recycling as seriously as electricity or water supply or any other vital service, and not confusingly readjust the collection days every time there is a bank holiday. Strict routine will give the optimum results and avoid garbage being left out on the wrong days.

P.H. FIELD,

St Stephens Avenue, St Albans.