Sir – Could I apologise to Mr Simpson (Letters, October 21) and anyone else who has not received their new blue wheelie bin on time? For nearly everyone the new improved and cheaper recycling scheme has gone remarkably well so far.

Oxford residents have entered into the blue wheelie scheme with enthusiasm. The city council bin collectors have switched seamlessly to a more efficient four-day collection schedule. And everyone seems to be coping where there have been changes to collection days.

Everything in the blue wheelies is now going to a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at nearby Enstone, instead of Milton Keynes. Food waste is being processed at Ardley and at the new Cassington anaerobic digester (Business feature, October 21).

The amount is falling but we are still sending too much residual waste to landfill at Ardley. So we all need to recycle even more. And with this new system we can.

For people who are awaiting a second blue wheelie, and for blocks of flats that are not yet on the improved system, we will get to you as soon as we can.

Arrangements for collection of unwanted blue and green boxes will be announced shortly.

But a big thank you to all the recyclers out there and to the refuse and recycling staff who are doing such an excellent job.

John Tanner, Board member for a Cleaner, Greener Oxford