OXFORDSHIRE has made great strides over recent months with recycling rubbish.

But we fear the rather draconian “behaviour-changing” approach of only having one dump for general waste will reverse many of the gains made.

Why has recycling improved in recent times in Oxfordshire?

Most of it is because better and more reliable doorstep schemes have been brought in, not because the whole population is suddenly worried about the fate of polar bears.

A large proportion of us are lazy. The new recycling schemes work because they are simple and do not require a lot of effort. If the schemes were complex or required a lot of work they would be failing.

And this holds true for the county’s bid to have just one place to dump general waste – it will make life more difficult for people.

Councillor Ian Hudspeth rejects the conclusion that people who currently dump their general waste lawfully will suddenly turn to flytipping.

What an idealistic view he holds of his fellow man.

The simple fact is there will be those who have a load of bulky rubbish they can’t dispose of in household bins who will decide there is a far simpler course of action than transporting it considerable distances to Kidlington.

Believing the county can force a major change in rubbish dumping by restricting us to just one tip is wishful thinking.