Having just visited the Hereford refuse and recycling centre in Rotherwas, Hereford, I am astonished as to what people throw away.

We are all well aware of the pressures facing the natural world and most people will acknowledge that we all need to do much much more to help the environment.

While I was at the site I spotted a vacuum cleaner similar to the one I own. It was in a shallow skip within arm's reach.

I thought to myself, 'Great, my own vacuum cleaner requires a new hose and new wheel.'

When I asked one of the attendants could I retrieve the vacuum cleaner and take it away, I was flabbergasted to learn that company policy does not allow this and there are cameras to identify people who retrieve items from the skips.

I am in no way blaming the staff for their decision, only the company policy which needs to change.

Herefordshire Council needs to apply more pressure to the company who they choose to deal with our waste.

Nick Walker
Whitecross