HAVING read the letter from Brian Robbins about the removal of public recycling facilities (Standard, January 17) I think it would be useful to remind readers that the recycling banks which the council is removing by the end of January are for plastic bottles only. Mr Robbins’s letter implied that these banks take all kinds of plastics and this is not correct. Also I can reassure residents that CDC will continue to provide a range of recycling banks for items such as paper, cans, glass, cardboard and textiles. We are fully committed to reducing waste going to landfill and we also campaign tirelessly to prevent fly tipping in the district.

As indicated in the Standard recently, the introduction of kerbside mixed rigid plastic recycling across the district in October has resulted in a dramatic decline in the use of the plastic bottle banks and, as planned, we no longer feel that we can justify spending £100,000 of taxpayers money each year to provide them.

We are very grateful that residents in the Cotswolds recycle so many items using the relevant containers provided, in fact, as Mr Robbins points out, we have one of the best records in the country thanks to your efforts. We were disappointed to hear that Mr Robbins has misgivings about the robustness of the containers, and if he cares to call our Waste Hotline on 01285 623123 we will try to resolve his concerns.

SCOTT WILLIAMS

Waste Manager

Cotswold District Council