I WOULD like to make a few points and observations re the new recycling regime due to start in July.

As a domiciliary chiropodist working around the Forest area and visiting the homes of elderly and disabled people, I have discussed this issue with many of my customers, and most are in agreement with me on the following points.

1. As elderly or disabled people they will have to rely on others to help with putting wheelie bins out. Some do not have back access to their properties so will have to leave their bins outside the front of their premises.

2. Those with no personal transport will have to pay for garden waste disposal when others with vehicles can take their own if they so choose.

3. They are concerned about the cost to the rate payer for food caddies, how long will it take for the Forest of Dean District Council to recoup these costs in remuneration for food waste recycling? Most people have commented that, like myself, food waste makes up a very small proportion of their refuse.

4. Why instead don't the Forest of Dean District Council consider kerbside plastics recycling – plastics make up a huge bulk of weekly refuse and to have to take this individually to recycling sites rather defeats the object of recycling it in the first place, when high petrol costs are taken in to account.  The skips in local supermarket car parks are often inaccessible when the car park is busy or full.

5. If normal refuse is only collected fortnightly, the potential smell from nappies, incontinence pads, dog waste etc could be appalling and the unsightliness of so many wheelie bins parked at the front of homes will look terrible, not everyone can manage to wheel it around to a less conspicuous site on their premises.

– Jan O'Neill.