SIR, — I am on assisted collection for my refuse and recyclables but unfortunately the waste disposal representatives do not always collect from my designated area as arranged. This was the case on Friday, May 30. Surely I m not the only resident to have

SIR, - I am on assisted collection for my refuse and recyclables but unfortunately the waste disposal representatives do not always collect from my designated area as arranged. This was the case on Friday, May 30.

Surely I'm not the only resident to have not received the recent literature regarding the new recycling regime nor have I received my ordered green wheelie-bin. As my street completely missed a recycle pick up the previous week - I was told, to make way for the new regime to start - I had accrued a larger-than-normal amount of cardboard, all of which was bagged and flattened in the usual, correct manner. When told by the district council's client services it wouldn't be picked up anyway as the cardboard bags (all very big and full) were obsolete, I was told to fit it all in the green garden waste bag (very small and also full) and "chase the waste disposal representative down the street and ask him if he would take it, should he return.

Chase? I'm on assisted collection for a reason - the metal rods screwed into my spine (as explained on my assisted collection application sheet) have put paid to my "chasing days". Perplexed as to how I was to perform the miraculous task of cramming huge amounts of card into an extremely full small green bag, I asked if client services representative had actually seen the sizes of the bags? I was told no! Surely they should have some working knowledge on the recycling products they are handing out to people?

After much debate and getting nowhere with the ridiculous conversation, my call was returned by a more knowledgeable member of staff. He informed me my refuse, green waste and cardboard would be collected sometime on the Saturday, although only one bag of card would be collected as there was no room on the van and the waste-disposal representative was only contracted to pick up one. Why? On one hand they want - no tell - us to recycle and on the other they will only pick up a certain amount. What's it to be? Also, isn't the practice of a man in a van driving round to pick up the stray uncollected waste items an extra pollutant to the environment?

I still have a bag of cardboard and two boxes full slowly breaking up in the rain. I can't drive at the moment so a visit to St Albans dump is out of the question, and why should I pester friends and family to clear up the council's mess? Sadly, I can see the breaking down and bagging up of it into black bags for landfill the only solution.

I take the matter of recycling very seriously and wish the council would too. The picking up of one bag is an extremely jobsworth act. They say the green/cards bags are obsolete so where do we dispose of them? Are there plans for them to be collected? Are they degradable or will they end up as more landfill?

I'm doing my bit. Please St Albans District Council, do yours.

A. HARVEY

Ladies Grove, St Albans.