Sir, – Having assisted an elderly person “spring clean” their home, I found expired medication (inhalers). I brought them to a Boots store for safe disposal. I was charged €5 for the return.This is a deterrent to the public doing the right thing. – Yours, etc,SUSAN HIGGINS,Rathgar,Dubin 6.Sir, – Today I was charged €51 for a new watch strap and battery in a south Dublin jewellers; €35 for the strap and a whopping €16 for the battery. On returning home, a quick check online showed me that I could have bought an almost identical watch, new, for €45. Where is the incentive to support local businesses and minimise waste? Something is wrong somewhere! Lesson learned. Next time I’ll make my own watch strap from “the materials at hand”, and buy a new battery for a couple of euro in my local supermarket. – Yours, etc,KATHERINE QUIRKE,Dún Laoghaire,Co Dublin.