Madam, - The recent high winds coincided with our weekly rubbish collection and the result was as depressing as it was predictable, with a nearby housing estate covered in litter from overturned wheelie bins and the surrounding hedgerows resembling an open landfill site. This is by far the most common cause of litter in housing estates across the country.
Ireland is a windy country, so it is hardly surprising that wheelie bins are blown over so frequently. But surely the Department of the Environment could stipulate that all wheelie bins come with a locking mechanism that could eliminate the problem. Has Minister for the Environment Dick Roche any plans to tackle this issue? - Yours, etc,
DAVID MAHER, Portarlington Tidy Towns Committee, Bracklone, Portarlington, Co Laois.