I HAVE again had the unenviable task of cleaning out the black box which was left when mine was taken to be emptied. It was swimming with stale beer and the bottom was covered with a thick yeasty substance that took ages to clean off. It smelled foul.

Even before we started the new recycling regime, of which I fully approve, I never put anything in the bin which was not rinsed and, if necessary, bagged. I see no reason why I should clean up after other people.

Is there no way that we can guarantee to have back the same box we hand in?

DISGUSTED RESIDENT