This is quite a pertinent thread considering the news today stating we are the worst recyclers in Europe.
Before the government starts on one of its "we should recycle more" crusades, it might want to look at the.... "facilities" they offer us!
The above experiences are typical examples. I have also suffered similar problems with our local recycling site!
I fully agree. Whilst I am more than happy to recycle (and do so where ever I can) it would seem that a lot of local council civic amenity sites try and put everything in our way to prevent us from using these facilities. My local site lets cars only on - you cannot even take a trailer in! So, I have to use a site which is further away as I always go to the dump in my Van (don't want the car getting dirty either inside or out). The number of hoops that I have to jump through because I am in a van is amazing. On my last trip, they would not take carpet as, and I quote, "this is not household waste". Luckily, I managed to conceal it under some other stuff from the same house.
I fully understand why the little lane leading away from the dump has piles of carpet, plaster board, building rubble etc in it as the proper facilites would rather it was distributed elsewhere. That being said, I do not condone fly tipping in any form.
These facilities need to open up more, not be staffed by people with an entire vat of McDonalds chips on thier shoulders, and generally need to provide the facilites to enable us to recycle, or dispose correctly of things like brake fluid etc.
There, I feel much better for that now........................