Letters: Give us new recycling bins and make mine a large one

With paper, glass and metal cans my blue bin is regularly full. Given that the bins are so small, there is insufficient capacity to add all of the plastic I discard.

However, the red bins have lots of spare capacity. Invariably we only have to put it out every two cycles.

Recycling is of paramount importance. I abhor having to use the normal bin and consider anything going to landfill as polluting the environment. So, can we have larger recycling bins, perhaps paid for by a fortnightly collection of less used landfill bins?

And will the Government consider all of the recyclable waste being discarded and tackle unnecessary packaging?

Isn't it environmentally insane for an entire industry to exist to produce elaborate packaging destined to pollute the environment in landfill?

Jim Taylor, The Murrays Brae, Edinburgh

A running battle with field litter

RECENTLY, after an evening's jog, I returned home with several plastic bags filled with nearly 100 bottles and cans collected from the playing fields in Liberton alongside Double Hedges Road. I collected these as I had grown dispirited and tired with running over, through and past such litter whenever I went jogging around the fields.

I often pick up recyclable litter when I'm out and about and usually find it a minor inconvenience but on this occasion the scale of the collection made it a chore.

You will then imagine how delighted I was to discover that within a few weeks, following some of the football match sessions held on the fields, the same quantity of litter had returned. I will inevitably also collect these but I wonder if the council could help out too and consider the following.

Could some recycling bins be put alongside the fields?

Could some community wardens visit the fields around the football match schedule?

The second option would at least result in some income through fines which might then cover the cost of the bins whilst also discouraging future littering. Perhaps once a couple of clubs, coaches and/or parents have had to pay out in this way we might see some future Scottish sports men and women taking a more responsible attitude towards their sports fields and the broader environment.

On a more positive point; I find myself relieved that Scotland won't be travelling to South Africa for the World Cup as it is a beautiful country and could do without our littering peoples spoiling it with discarded sports drinks containers the gullible have been led to believe will improve their performance.

Mr G Findlay, Liberton

Small price to pay for blue badge

I AM a blue badge holder in Midlothian, and as yet Midlothian has not started to charge 20 for them, but no doubt it will.

What many people don't realise is the 20 payment is for three years, which works out at 13p a week for free parking as most badge holders receive disability living allowance or care allowance or both to cover such expenses.

I do not agree with the charge, but at 13p a week I can live with it if it is introduced by Midlothian Council.

Mr W Lockhart, Galadale Crescent, Newtongrange

Leading question over burka ban

BELGIUM is to become the first Europe country to ban the burka. Have any of the leaders of the three main parties been asked if they agree with Belgium? Or is that stretching our democracy too far?

John Connor, David Henderson Court, Dunfermline

Timely reminder of spent money

WITH good timing, the tram on Princes Street will remind us, the voters, how our money is being spent.

Anna Bryce, Dalry Road, Edinburgh