I NOTE from last week’s Messenger that Trafford Council’s survey has revealed that 23 per cent of waste in the grey bins is food that could be recycled.

That is lamentable and it is right that steps should be taken to improve the percentage of waste food recycling.

However, it seems cynical of Trafford to carefully avoid admitting that 100 per cent of plastic punnets, tubs and yoghurt pots that are recyclable are also placed into grey bins every week as demanded by the council because it has not arranged suitable recycling facilities for these plastics.

In most other local authorities, one mixed recycling bin is the norm and plastic items of all kinds, not just bottles, are deposited for recycling.

In these areas, it is not necessary for every household to have four different bins.

I wonder how much it cost the council to provide every household with four plastic refuse bins.

And what an eyesore they are outside every home!

Given the now recognised long-term problem of plastic in the environment and in our oceans, isn’t it about time that Trafford sorted out a comprehensive recycling system?

It is no wonder people are confused when some plastics are recycled and some are not, even though they are marked as recyclable!

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