EAST Cambs District Council, in their wisdom, decided to reduce the number of times they collect our household rubbish. Instead of taking away our black plastic bags full of the debris from our daily activities once a week, they collect them once every fo

EAST Cambs District Council, in their wisdom, decided to reduce the number of times they collect our household rubbish. Instead of taking away our black plastic bags full of the debris from our daily activities once a week, they collect them once every fortnight.

Ah no, we are told, we are not reducing our service - we are giving you a much better service. It will cut down the amount of rubbish we put in our landfill site and I know you will agree, we are all producing too much rubbish at the moment.

Sorry, but I remain confused.

Does this mean, when my dog refused to eat the 'special' dog food in a non-recyclable container I have bought for her, I may still wrap it and put it in my black plastic rubbish bag - and then what? I have to leave it 'somewhere' for a fortnight?

No matter how well I wrap up the rubbish -

it smells, which means it has to be kept outside. The smell entices flies, and nightly creatures who like to break open the bags and investigate what is inside.

The longer it is left - the higher and more enticing it becomes.

Store it in your shed - I am told - does this mean I have to take out my lawn mower and leave it in the rain to deteriorate? Will the council buy me a new lawn mower? (I think not). We are told wheelie bins are too expensive (for the council to buy - but not for us?)

I remain mystified. How can storing rubbish for a longer period improve our environment? You are not recycling enough, I am told. Every tin and bottle I have, I wash out, store and if I can work out when the collectors are coming, leave them for collection.

So, along with my piles of black plastic bags I have piles of tins, bottles, newspaper and flattened cardboard. A corner of my garden that was once resplendent with flowers is now my own rubbish collection site.

I check the list of times when the collectors are coming - some time on Friday - not always, of course, they like to have a holiday when there is a bank holiday so this means that every delivery date is changed. Try as I might, I cannot persuade my rubbish to have a holiday too. Strange how when I go on holiday in other countries I notice my rubbish is collected on a daily basis.

I am going to produce the same amount of rubbish, no matter how many times it is collected. I have been compacting and recycling for years. Contrary to the criticisms 'our' council levy at us these days, I will be unable to produce 'less' rubbish. I remain even more mystified why my Council Tax has increased, and the 'services' the council provide are being decreased.

ROSEMARY WESTWELL

Resident of Witchford