Oxford City Council is proposing to give wheelie bins to residents and undertake alternate weekly collections of general rubbish and recycled materials (Oxford Mail, January 13).

Readers concerned about rotting waste in their wheelie bins, due to bi-weekly collections, might like to consider a compost heap.

These can compost kitchen peelings, garden waste and some cardboard -- providing you have a garden, of course.

However, a compost heap at home shouldn't be used for food waste as it attracts rats.

We would like to see the council collecting food waste and composting it municipally, using an in-vessel composter.

Some London boroughs are doing this, as is Mendips District Council in Somerset.

An in-vessel composter can safely compost all food waste, including meat and bone, giving a soil conditioner for gardening or farming.

In-vessel composting technology will help divert more biodegradable material from landfill, thus meeting national targets.

It is also part of a solution that avoids burning our rubbish in an incinerator.

Andrew Wood

Oxford Friends of the Earth

Norreys Avenue

Oxford