TODAY was waste collection day in my area. As I had received a great deal of strong cardboard packaging lately I asked my son to break it up and fold it so I could put it out for collection. This was done, but ALL of it was left at my front gate.

My wife rang the council and was told that ALL cardboard must be cut to the size of the orange recycling box lids.

As I am 71 and suffer from arthritis in my hands and wrists this becomes very difficult to do.

Surely the people that collect my waste are fitter and stronger than me? Would it not have not been possible for them to feed my cardboard through the ‘slot’ in the lorry and bend it to fit?

In my youth I remember the dust cart had a trailer that was linked behind and this was where ALL cardboard and paper were forced into and sufficient effort was made to load on all waste paper and cardboard.

A bit different from a ‘letter-box’ slot in today’s waste carts!

So at my age I am faced with trying to cut up the cardboard myself or perhaps hiring someone to do it for me to get rid of waste cardboard or go to the tip.

I thought that I paid my rates for this service?

Does fly-tipping come to mind? I have already bought a small sack truck to be able to manoeuvre the recycle waste through my house and out into the front garden as it gets too heavy for me to shift.

Happy days! What an enlightened age I find myself forced to live in!

Barry E Woodham, Scotby Avenue, Swindon