Whilst it’s good news that household waste depots have reopened across Watford, not so good is the fact that the upcycling or recycling facilities at these sites are still closed until further notice.

An aspect of the coronavirus pandemic has been the positive impact on the environment: people furloughed or working from home has meant less traffic on the roads; less greenhouse emissions and cleaner air.

But the shutdown of recycling facilities will mean a whole lot more waste going to landfill and a backward step on the waste front.

If people still want to recycle things back into the community there are a host of area specific buy/sell groups on social media to get unwanted goods to someone who needs them.

Or there is the freecycle network to advertise them to avert good stuff going to waste and piling up a waste mountain in the ground.

Dave Degen

Watford