It is now almost five months since Rochford Council introduced the new three-bin recycling scheme and, from what we are lead to believe, it is an overwhelming success with very high levels of recycling.

This is to be applauded and I am all in favour of recycling.

However, what I am still struggling with, despite adapting such as the crushing of cans and the utilising of the blue box for additional items, is the fortnightly collection of recyclables.

Having spoken to friends and neighbours, I am not alone in that with a family of five, by far the greater majority of my household waste is of the recyclable type.

I estimate this to be as high as 80 per cent, with 15 per cent being non recyclable and compostable being a mere 5 per cent, especially during the winter months when I have no garden refuse and my weekly compostable is limited to one seven litre bag of food waste.

It does seem ludicrous that 5 per cent of my waste is collected weekly, yet 80 per cent is only collected every two weeks. It is literally getting to the situation where you are reluctant to open another can as the bin is full several days before collection and you are under the threat that if the lid is not closed flat it will not be collected.

I appreciate the logic of the weekly collection of compostables as these can smell, but surely a rethink is needed when it comes to the frequency of the collection of recyclables?

Graham Gowland
Canewdon Hall Close
Canewdon