I have used the Redbridge recycling facility in Abingdon Road, Oxford, several times recently and been impressed by the organisation, the sorting into 10 or more types of waste and the ease of access, by car, for householders.

Nevertheless, I think the recycling methods could be greatly simplified, improved and produce valuable recycled fuel.

1. Use a hydraulic car crusher to compact all waste, including food, rubble and glass (poisons and hazardous gases excepted) 2. Chop the compact into transportable bricks - these will be 80 per cent combustible carbohydrates 3. Transport the bricks on underground conveyors in pipelines 4. Burn the bricks in power stations to drive electric generators 5. Smelt off re-usable metals, glass etc 6. Use the power station ash to make breeze blocks (ref, Prof Henry Liu, University of Texas) 7. Clean the power station chimney smoke and capture the carbon for use in agriculture.

Hydraulic car-crushers are relatively quiet and more than capable of compacting the waste.

Oxford City could lead this processing, relieve citizens of the job of pre-sorting waste at home - and contribute to cheaper electricity.

NOEL HODSON Coordinator, Foodtubes Brookside Oxford