I read with dismay in Wednesday's Echo of the council's decision to scrap the recently-installed plastic recycling Banks as the company responsible for their operation "is having ongoing difficulties in disposing of the materials".

My questions, therefore, are these:

Firstly, did this anonymous company not know of their own inability to successfully dispose of the plastic before tendering for the contract (in which case why tender?)?

Secondly, did the council not exercise due diligence in investigating this company's capabilities before awarding them the contract?

These banks, frequently full to overflowing (now we see why!) serve perfectly to illustrate the amount of plastic waste that is not collected in our kerbside bins but which still needs to be disposed of effectively.

I trust the council will not drag their feet in replacing these bins as soon as another (satisfactory) operator can be found.

Edward Howson

Southampton