Sir.-I write with regard to recycling and the fact that, according to the news recently, the authorities are planning to spend millions of pounds on a "recycling campaign", as we are one of the worst countries at doing so.

I am a firm believer in the benefits of recycling, but until the refuse collection in my area improves, I have no intention of putting the reusable items in a separate container.

I am sure the refuse collection in many parts of the country is excellent, but in Kempshott, where I live, I don't believe this is so.

I have been told that the bins are to be left outside the gate - in my case, the back gate - from where they will be collected and returned, but this is not so.

True, the rubbish is collected, and the bins emptied, but they are then left at the top, or around the corner of a fairly long alleyway.

This may only be an inconvenience for able-bodied people on a dry day, but for the elderly, less able or in cold, wet weather, it is a nightmare.

I have spent hours on the telephone, talking to those in charge at the refuse depot, all of whom are very apologetic and confirm that bins should be returned to the place from where they have been collected and that it won't happen again. I have also taped polite notices to the lid of my bin requesting that it be returned - all to no avail.

Perhaps, instead of spending millions of pounds on training the public about the benefits of recycling, more training should be given to the refuse collectors and then, maybe, more people, including me, would be willing to make the effort.

-C Hunter, Kempshott, Basingstoke.