Without doubt the most thought less plan floating out there. Our bins are picked up every two weeks. Where I live, bins must be placed close to the home, there are maggots, encourages rodents, and the smell in the heat is disgusting. This isn't a healthy way to dispose of garbage. We recycle, only our council does not pick up bottles and various other things - such as waxed boxes. I don't own a car, so how exactly should I dispose of the things the council won't pick up?

It doesn't seem to me that the environmental secretary lives on the planet with real people. How is it helping if you assume everyone owns a car and can dispose of waste properly? If I have to bag my garbage three times in order to control the smell and invitation of creatures invading it? It is the most ridiculous of plans, fine for those who have an acre of land to put their garbage well away from their homes - not so for those of us who have to live on top of it before it gets picked up.

Layne, Southampton, Hampshire

Without doubt the most thought less plan floating out there. Our bins are picked up every two weeks. Where I live, bins must be placed close to the home, there are maggots, encourages rodents, and the smell in the heat is disgusting. This isn't a healthy way to dispose of garbage. We recycle, only our council does not pick up bottles and various other things - such as waxed boxes. I don't own a car, so how exactly should I dispose of the things the council won't pick up?

It doesn't seem to me that the environmental secretary lives on the planet with real people. How is it helping if you assume everyone owns a car and can dispose of waste properly? If I have to bag my garbage three times in order to control the smell and invitation of creatures invading it? It is the most ridiculous of plans, fine for those who have an acre of land to put their garbage well away from their homes - not so for those of us who have to live on top of it before it gets picked up.

Layne, Southampton, Hampshire

The need to recycle more is a serious issue, and most households will recycle 'stuff' given the opportunity. However the postion 'NU Labour' takes of 'Stick' to everything will alienate the very people they are trying to persuade. Giving Local Authorities powers to 'Fine' people for the 'wrong sort of rubbish', or putting their Wheelie Bins out on the "wrong day" is a complete nonsense. Some Local Authorities in the 'hustle' for all this nonsense, have decided that they wont accept 'Shredded Paper' or 'Glass'. Just what raving nonsense is that?

The Senior Managers of Cleansing Departments & Councillors better be very careful that they don't find themselves at the end of personal legal action, or complaints of a Criminal nature being lodged against them by angry Council Tax Payers. This approach of using a 'Sledgehammer' to crack a nut must NOT be tolerated one bit!!

Bob Clarke, Chelmsford, UK

Typical Labour policy of overcomplicating things. It is clear that while householders must recycle more, retailers and manufacturers must significantly reduce packaging. Instead it seems as if every day they find new ways of increasing the amount plastic and cardboard that we need to throw back in the bin. Can anybody tell me why red peppers need to be individually wrapped in plastic ? or why M&S insists on putting their bananas in a plastic bag? My answer to all of this is to go to the corner shop/market where they have fresh fruit and vegetables that I can simply drop in a paper bag. But this is not realistic for the average person. If Mr Milliband wants to show he is doing something: target the manufacturers and the retailers!

Juana, London,

We currently have weekly collections alternating between recycling and landfill bin (effectively fortnightly collection of your "normal" rubbish).

In a household of only two, this policy works quite well for us. We were surprised at how many things can be put into the recycling bin. However, it is evident that households with children (particularly nappy wearing children) find it difficult bordering on impossible to contan two weeks of non-recyclable rubbish in one wheely bin.

The most natural reaction to a charge imposed on landfill waste would be to stuff a load of non-recyclable material into the recycling bin.

To make the system work we will not only be paying someone to weigh our bins but also employing snooping inspectors to check our recyclable waste.

The sheer number of extra bodies needed to implement this solution will inevitably result in a rise in the councils costs. We will have to pay for it. Whatever the method of recovery, this cannot be "tax neutral".

Bob, Reading,

Any opportunity you give a council to make extra money will be hungrily and gratefully snapped up. Bring this in and they'll all be doing it within a year, with ever more imaginative methods of extracting yet more money from us - naive in the extreme to believe otherwise!

I can see it now... "Sorry Madam, but you put a blue coloured wrapper in the recycling bin on a Thursday, and you're well aware that section 2, sub-section 3.1(a) of the regulations states that blue can only go in on a Wednesday - that'll be £25 please"

Homer, London,