Sir, I can assure your readers that the Liberal Democrats are totally committed to an expansion of recycling in Oxford, to improve substantially on the very poor record of the previous Labour administration. Our first pledge is to expand the current very patchy green waste and cardboard collection across the city as fast as possible. It is very popular where in place and we want everyone to be able to participate just as soon as the council can provide it.

Liberal Democrats are also totally committed to the kerbside collection of plastics, for far too long opposed by Labour. I should like too to have batteries collected from the kerbside, as is done by the Lib Dem-run Vale of the White Horse.

Although people have been supportive of the general aim of increasing the proportion of household waste that is recycled, there has been much opposition to the imposition of wheelie bins across the city. Many people are also very concerned about the proposal to reduce the frequency of collection of general waste, fearing health hazards and smells in the summer. Our position is that we want to work with residents, not threaten them with fines for non-compliance before the scheme is even up and running. As the new portfolio holder for refuse and recycling collections, I shall ensure that Oxford really does improve performance, not just set targets as councillor Price (Letters, May 19) seems to think is an adequate route to improvement.

As for John Coleman's assertion that we are secretly sympathetic to incineration' well, what nonsense. We shall be working with our county colleagues to reduce waste sent to landfill and insist on the least environmentally damaging option for the disposal of the non-recyclable waste.

Jean Fooks, Liberal Democrat portfolio holder for a cleaner city