IT is plain from your reports and comments that Blackburn has merely got a "bin emptying service," not a rubbish collection service. The evidence for this lies on any and every street and back.

The present service, if you can call it that, was probably dreamed up in a cushy office by someone with a slide rule and a head full of statistics.

Unfortunately, when this plan meets the unexpected -- such as a bin without brakes that moves when it is not supposed to, or a family that doesn't have just X pounds of waste per week, or a vandal who torches the bin for fun -- the plan finishes second best.

It is of no use trying to paper over the cracks by saying "you should only put so much waste in the bin per week." No planner can ensure that the particularly smelly bit of rubbish turns up just when there's a convenient space for it.

Recycling is another getout, but not everyone has the convenience of a car, so who is going to lug a large bundle of waste on to a bus or taxi?

To my knowledge there are only three collection points for recycling in Blackburn -- Asda, Tesco and the town centre roof-top car park. None is particularly convenient for pedestrians.

Where I live, we are supposed to have one very large bin per six households, which is supposed to be returned to its station by the bin operatives.

That's the plan. However, for several months now we have had only one bin for 12 households. One ran away and, apparently, it is no one's job to bring it back. Also, when we had the correct number of bins, if the bin wasnt full, it could be left for another week. Some system!

The only solution I can see is for the collection service bosses and the appropriate union representatives to get together and formulate a plan based on facts, not fairytales, and tailored to the needs of the community.

HARRY TALBOT, Parkwood Road, Blackburn.