Sir – I remember when free collection of green bags with garden waste started, and my husband and I said to each other ‘This is wonderful. It can’t last . . .’.

We were quite right. But it was a luxury service, and with necessary cuts happening all round, I’d far rather lose my free recycling than lose Summertown Library, for example, which would be a dreadful deprivation. Three excellent and perfectly reasonable alternatives: rent a bin, subscribe to compostable bags, or opt out. All clearly explained on a tag on our blue recycle bin this morning. Congratulations to Oxford City Council.

Janet Caldwell, Oxford

PS . . . and yes, we can keep our old green bags — which are just the right shape and size for the purpose.