Overflowing bins and fly-tipping on Belsize Terrace

• TWO letters, headed “The challenge of recycling” and “Why this excuse for overflowing bins?” caught my attention, (New Journal, December 10).

The accompanying photograph (above) showed a recycling (green) bin stuffed with black rubbish bags which are not for recycling.

Corona-19 is a challenge. Dealing with the aftermath of Brexit will be a challenge. Recycling and waste disposal is not a challenge. It’s dead easy. Selfish, lazy residents and shop owners are the challenge.

No matter how many signs Veolia put up all over the bins and in letter-boxes asking people not to put black rubbish bags, food or non-recyclable plastics in the green bins, it will never be enough.

People ignore the signs and stuff bags that they don’t want on their property into already full public bins.

If Camden Council try to fine people or not collect their rubbish because they’ve ignored the guidelines, the irate residents are up in arms. The misuse of public bins, plus fly-tipping, is why Veolia have withdrawn many public bins.

The same misuse of charity bins intended for “clean”, “good quality” clothes “in bags”, has resulted in these being withdrawn. What the charities get is dirty, horrible, junk that cannot be resold.

We all suffer from the actions of selfish people. Just as bad are the people – particularly young people who are supposed to care about the planet – who put glass bottles and paper products in regular bins when these can be recycled.

And why are so many people sitting at tables inside coffee shops with disposable cups? Some two-and-a-half billion are thrown into bins in the UK every year. And many cups and lids are thrown into recycle bins when they are not recyclable and vice versa.

Can we continue to blame the council when self-indulgent residents can’t be bothered to follow a few simple guidelines?

JOYCE GLASSER
Savernake Road, NW3