I AM sure along with many of your readers we are becoming increasingly annoyed with the current recycling service.

The complaint is not to do with the frequency of the collections but the total lack of care by the crews when emptying the containers resulting in damage to the containers and litter.

It is understandable that in order to complete their rounds that speed is important, that does not mean that the containers cannot be replaced where they found them with the lids on.

Generally they are just thrown back into the property or by the side of the road. In windy weather like today both mine and a neighbour's had to be retrieved from out in the road where it was obviously creating a traffic hazard.

We always place bricks on top to avoid the lids being blown off, these are never replaced.

Presumably many of these damaged containers are having to be replaced due to mishandling, with the resultant cost coming from our community tax.

We take the time and effort to sort our recycling into separate poly bags before placing them into the containers which in turn saves the operators' time when emptying them, but by leaving the lids off and just tossing the the containers by the roadside inevitably these bags end up being blown away and littering the countryside.

Needless to say I have contacted West Devon Borough Council also in the hope that they will try to resolve these issues.

David Munnelly

Rushford

Tavistock