BOLTON council wants to encourage people to recycle their waste which my wife and I have always been keen to do.

For two consecutive collections, our green bin has not been emptied along with the rest of one side of the centre section of Plodder Lane.

On ringing the refuse department I was told that they would empty it on the Friday, this would make it five weeks.

Although it is still not full (unlike those of my neighbours) we have not used it for several days due to the overpowering stench or rotting food and garden waste when opened.

One would have thought there would be a priority. The excuse given was that it may have been a different team. Are they not given a schedule? Or do they just drive around a few streets on the off chance they may spot a few bins that need emptying.

The postie knows where he is going when he sets out in a morning even though it is not always the same person.

People used to be held responsible for such incompetence, not anymore. Our recycling days look to be over, everything now going in the grey bins, the food can then go in plastic bags thus no smell.

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