I was wandering around the other morning on “dustbin day” along Telscombe Cliffs and was amazed by the number of black sacks full of rubbish standing outside people’s homes waiting to be collected.

The numbers ranged from two up to seven sacks, plus numbers of cardboard boxes and other items too.

I am positive that a lot of the “rubbish” could have been recycled – most certainly the cardboard boxes I saw could have been.

Then there is the food that is wasted each year.

It is easy to spot the black sacks containing food – they are the ones attacked by seagulls and ripped apart, their contents strewn across the street.

The food that is wasted and taken to landfill in this country is a mind-boggling seven million tons (yes, seven million tons) – quite unbelievable isn’t it?

Throughout this country, most landfill sites are just about full. In fact, it is estimated they will be full in about five years’ time.

What are we to do then? There is so much material that can be recycled instead of being taken to landfill but, to be honest, what’s the incentive for people to recycle these materials?

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) does a fine job, but it would be the first to admit it could do better.

I would like to see ESCC do one of two things: slightly reduce the rates of those who take the trouble to recycle, or add a little bit more to the rates of those people who don’t recycle.

It is obvious we cannot carry on the way we are.

It is to the benefit of everyone to recycle as much of our rubbish as we can.

Manufacturers could also help by reducing the packaging on goods they sell. Do we really need so much packaging on our groceries, for example?

ESCC has just delivered recycling boxes for food waste to all houses in its area, which will be collected with other recyclables.

There is no doubt we can all help in reducing the rubbish we send to landfill; it is the responsibility of us all.

Sadly, there are members of the public – selfish members – who think it is someone else’s problem and not theirs. They are wrong.

The public must be encouraged to “stop and think” – ask yourself, could this be recycled?

If yes is the answer, don’t put it in the dustbin; recycle it and help us all.

David Rowland, Harvest Close, Telscombe

The photo on the front page of The Argus on June 14, headlined “Bomb Site,” shows rubbish piled high on the recycling boxes and over the pavement.

Look closely and you will see six empty boxes under the full boxes.

Recyclable materials will only be removed if they are inside the boxes, not piled high on top or beside them. If the boxes are piled high they cannot be lifted on to the lorry.

I suspect the building behind the rubbish is a block of flats, where sadly no one takes responsibility for organising these recyclable materials.

Selma Montford, Clermont Road, Brighton

I was annoyed to see your picture of a rubbish pile on Dyke Road in Brighton on the front page of The Argus last week (June 14).

The caption states that the pile of rubbish shown is “before the strike had even begun”. Looking at the picture, it’s clear little recycling is done in this street, with plastic containers in the wrong place.

Recycling boxes stacked under others are not being used. Why not? Residents could solve a lot of problems by using all the boxes provided and keeping rubbish in a much tidier order.

Paul Robards, Griffiths Avenue, Lancing