I’m a fan of recycling, but I’m not a fan of the recycling boxes. I hate them. I hate them so much I sometimes give mine a kick when I leave the house. I can’t wait to get rid of it.

My area of Hove received a questionnaire from the council suggesting that the individual box system is replaced with more local recycling bins, to stand next to the existing rubbish ones.

Great idea I thought, and the outcome revealed that around 80% of my neighbours thought the same.

This survey took place a while ago now and we’re still waiting for our big new road recycling bins to come. But when they do I hope there is a ritualistic disposal of the little black boxes to celebrate.

I understand we can’t burn them but I would like to.

Ugly things parked outside every front door that act as an open buffet for foxes and pedal bins for anyone walking past with a fast food wrapper in their hands.

In a strong wind their contents get strewn about the pavement unless a gull has got their first to have a go.

Some of the larger houses include a lot of flats meaning endless boxes line stretches of pavement as far as the eye can see.

We had to replace our box lid recently because ours had cracked, we were informed that they only replaced with nets now and were duly sent one.

It's worse than having no lid at all - the foxes and birds only work harder to free what’s inside and keep you awake at night. And your box always fills up with rainwater making the card stuff all wet and mouldy.

Always overflowing because they are so small, they cause nothing but mess and I am sure they mean we all recycle less. I certainly do.

I try hard to keep everything that needs to be recycled but of course that little box can’t hold anywhere near enough waste for a family for one week, let alone two and as we have moved from less and less regular collections (up to two months recently) everything starts to pile up in our really small kitchen and sometimes ends up in the easy to get to outdoor bins I’m afraid.

We try to get up to one of the recycling points when we can and take huge lots in one go, or walk smaller amounts to the bins closest to us – but if we’re already having to do that when the black boxes are even more redundant?

I understand not everyone can get to an outdoor bin but there must be a way to cater for those unable to recycle outside if they want to keep up with an individual collection?

The central bins work well when emptied regularly and surely the recycling ones would work just as well? We just need more of them.

Streets within walking distance of mine have already got rid of their little boxes and they look cleaner and clearer without them. I hope the residents feel the same way and are happy with their own recycling points because I can’t wait for mine.