I AM grateful to The Press for highlighting the waste of public money due to bins disappearing for a variety of reasons.

However, for me personally the worst part of this saga was that my last replacement bin, delivered after two phone calls and 17 days, was actually a bin which had very obviously been used by someone else!

The bin was delivered on Easter Saturday and although it was second-hand, I was not too concerned as I already had two plastic bags of rubbish waiting to be housed away from my cats.

However, on noticing a very unpleasant smell, I opened the bin to find the bottom covered by waste food and packaging. The smell was nauseating and I immediately rang the council - but it was a weekend and no one available.

The weather was warm and, with the smell more obnoxious by the minute, I was left with no alternative but to try and clean this germ-laden council 'offering'.

I have never before faced this task, but I was not prepared to leave germ infestation within smelling distance of my home over the Bank Holiday period.

So, I spent Easter Saturday afternoon trying to get my

council replacement bin into something less than a health and safety hazard. After a week it still smells, but hopefully the bleach will have killed off the germs. And they call this service!

Liz Edge,

Parkside Close,

York.

Updated: 08:52 Monday, May 01, 2006