Locked bins? It could only happen in the Borough with the worst recycling rate in the country.

11.57.42pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 9th Sep 2007

Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats are struggling to uncover the reason why many of the Borough's public recycling bins are kept locked. Desperate residents are taking to leaving their recyclable waste in sacks on the ground next to the bins.

Bins in Bethnal Green North Ward

The Ward Councillors in Bethnal Green North, Cllr Azizur Rahman Khan and Cllr Stephanie Eaton took these photographs in their ward. Speaking of the bins on Old Bethnal Green Road Cllr Khan said" Of the five recycling bins available to residents, three are locked. How can we improve our recycling rate and environment when the bins are not accessible?"

Cllr Eaton commented: "I have asked the Lead member for Cleaner, Safer, Greener, and the Corporate Director for Environment and Culture to explain to me why the bins are locked. Neither could offer a reason, in fact they both looked baffled. They have promised to find out and get back to me... I look forward to receiving an answer."

Tower Hamlets has the lowest recycling rate in the United Kingdom.