THERE has been a lot of weeping and wailing about alternate weekly green and normal collections.

I am not sure exactly how long Eastleigh has been doing this but it is a long time and I certainly have no complaints.

All households get a calendar of collection dates and details of what can and can't be recycled. More effort should be made to shorten this list. Even so, our recycling bags are usually twice the ordinary waste.

It is not rocket science to realise that food, or perishable, waste should be, at least, put in a carrier bag or well wrapped. At the very least this prevents odour, mice, rats and all other unwelcome visitors. Of course, if you are a gardener, you could add it to the compost heap.

We have had no problem for a number of years. Stop and think, then act. Alternate weekly collections work if you are sensible. If you are not, there are plenty of people who will wash your bin out. At a price. It will also cost you a fortune in air freshener. as well.

It is a great pity that there are no standard recycling facilities throughout the country.

"This plastic is ok. This one is not''. How do we know which is which? It seems to vary from area to area what can and can't be recycled.

A further help would be for suppliers to drastically reduce the amount of packaging on their goods. I appreciate some items are fragile and need protection but not every thing.

Think, act responsibly and you will help keep council tax down.

DAVE BEACH, Chandler's Ford.