I read your story with disbelief regarding Stevenage Borough Councils dustmen dumping bin bags. I do not live far from The Paddocks and thought that does not happen here, we have no problem with them, they come early in the morning and within an hour it

I read your story with disbelief regarding Stevenage Borough Councils' dustmen dumping bin bags.

I do not live far from The Paddocks and thought that does not happen here, we have no problem with them, they come early in the morning and within an hour it is collected and they move on.

However, the very next day, on Friday, this week's collection day, I was disgusted to find that the dustmen had ripped open some of my bin bags and left them strewn over the grass outside my hedge, leaving me to clean up the mess.

I do not know why this was done, but the bags contained some old plant pots (empty of course) and broken plastic toys. I do not see what the problem is about these items being collected along with normal rubbish, but now I will have to pay extra (in addition to my council tax and per bag!) to have these removed and left for weeks cluttering my front drive before they are taken away. I am all for recycling but it is no wonder some people fly tip when our rubbish is left by those paid to take it away. I for one resent having my rubbish rummaged through as if I'm a criminal.

RUTH ARLOFF, Valley Way, Stevenage

* It breaks my heart to read in The Comet (April 20) about bin bags being left in the pathways by dustmen, because I know how common this is.

All over Stevenage, you can see litter in our streets, parks and open spaces.

The recycling system (which was instigated by the Local Agenda 21 Committee of which I was a member) is being abused, with paper, cans and bottles, carefully sorted by householders on the request of Stevenage Borough Council, all being dumped by the dustmen in one container and wasted.

Can you imagine how I feel after 40 years of trying to get people to do their bit for the environment, to see the very people who are supposed to be carrying out this vital work, ignoring the grand efforts of the public because they cannot be bothered?

PETE PERRY, Austen Paths, Stevenage

* I read the article Its Rubbish with interest as I have complained to the council using the 0800 number in the past to report the same problem in Kymswell Road, however since complaining last year there has been little or no improvement.

I find it particularly frustrating when I have to wheel my two-year-old son into the road in his pushchair to avoid the rubbish whilst doing the school run. Sometimes dustmen have watched me do this yet not moved the rubbish or even apologised.

I should like to point out however that it is not always the dustmen who block the paths, it is sometimes the residents! Maybe it is time SBC employed a new more hygienic system i.e. wheelie bins.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED