Sir - It's not recycling that matters to Oxford residents - everyone should acknowledge the sense of this project. But the frequency of collection is the issue. To quote from Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeze?, published by New Scientist: "Analysis of household rubbish have detected very pathogenic bacteria, including Pasturella pestis, the bacterium responsible for causing bubonic plague. So don't sniff too hard".

Councillor Fooks reckons that such hazards don't exist as rubbish is wrapped safely inside a green wheelie bin. Right or not, her view does not allow for the likely rise in fly-tipping undertaken by desperate households unable to store a fortnight's rubbish in between collection dates. A brief trip down Banbury Road confirms that this is already the case.

It's perfectly possible to combine recycling with frequent collection. In France, for example, many communes (local equivalent of Oxford City Council) collect rubbish two to three times a week and operate far-reaching recycling schemes. Why not here in Oxford where local taxes are higher?

E Watt, Banbury Road, Oxford