Sir – On learning that from August 3, green wheelie bins with excess rubbish placed by or on top of them will no longer be collected I called the given helpline to ask if special provision will be made to cope with extra rubbish during the Christmas and New Year period. The answer to my inquiry was no.

I was told if I didn’t want to keep the surplus bags it was my responsibility to take them to the recycling centre.

The telephonist was polite but unhelpful so I asked to speak to someone in authority and was told. “That’s not allowed”.

I have now written to my councillor and am waiting for a reply.

The fortnightly collection ensures my wheelie bin is completely full at collection time. There is no room whatsoever for the extra bags that occur over a holiday period. To be expected to keep any surplus bags containing food waste from one collection to another is unrealistic and unhygienic (and no I have not got room in my freezer for black bags full of waste!) I was told the disposal of any surplus waste was my responsibility, but I feel it is unrealistic to expect the public to take to the recycling depot bags of landfill waste that the council refuses to collect. What are those without cars expected to do?

I had, until now, understood that the council was responsible for collecting waste, this service being paid for out of my council tax. By adhering to the new rules, fly-tipping in our area of extra bags, dumped by or on the wheelie bins under the cover of darkness, is rapidly becoming a problem.

I am quite happy with the fortnightly collections of other recycling waste, but do feel that food waste should enjoy a weekly collection.

J. Bale (Mrs), Oxford