Rubbish idea

Any responsible person would surely welcome the latest initiative on recycling (“Scotland takes big step forward to a deposit return scheme roll-out”, 28 June). It appears that the Scottish Government anticipates a possible 60 per cent recycling rate.

At first glance this would seem to be a significant step in the right direction. The key element in this, however, would appear to be the level of the deposit, which would need to be sufficiently high to make return of the item worthwhile, but not so high as to deter the purchaser in the first place. It also occurs to me that the people who could be expected to participate in the scheme are those who are alreadyitems via the appropriately coloured bin provided by their local authority.

If that is the case, the deposit return scheme would just be a different means of recycling the same items.

Sadly, it may be that only a huge cultural change will have the wider impact hoped for. That said, the success or otherwise of the scheme remains to be seen and it is certainly worth a try.

DAVID EDGAR Main Street Symington ,Biggar

I have received a letter from the council informing me that from 8 October we will be charged £25 to get our brown garden waste bins emptied. Is it only cynical old me or is this a council tax increase by the back door? So when will we be getting similar letters about our green bins/grey bins/blue boxes/food waste bins? I foresee a vast increase in garden refuse dumping!

The council tells us that the “collection of garden waste is not paid for by Council Tax as it’s not a statutory service”.

So what charitable institution has been paying for this service? I’d like to write to them and thank them.

I MURRAY Broomhall Loan, Edinburgh