POSSIBLY the reason that there are so many problems with rubbish collection is that the system is so complex with multiple bins and infrequent collection.

The system used in Malta seems to be so much simpler,and easy to understand.

All recyclables,including ALL plastic, glass, metal and cloth, is put in a large, grey plastic bag.

All other waste is put in a black plastic bag. These bags are left outside the apartment or house, and when the collection vehicles come, one for grey and one for black,the bags are easily picked up and thrown into the vehicle. As the collections are so frequent, at least once a week for each and sometimes twice a week, the bags seldom become very heavy and no complex machinery is necessary to hoist heavy bins.

Neither does the householder have to spend time sorting out the waste:recyclable waste is sorted out at the collection depot.

If a similar system were to be adopted in Trafford, it would put less onus upon the householder: more frequent collections would obviate the need for large bins, which are costly and difficult to move around and empty, when full.

I fail to see why the householder who is paying for the facility should have to spend time sorting all the different recyclables.

There was a time when all one did was put everything in a bin and it was emptied once a week.

The problem is that now, the vast amount of waste is caused by the overuse of packaging materials, much of which is unnecessary.

Quite often it is a fight to extract a purchase, be it food or anything else, from its packaging.

David Olliver, Altrincham