MAY I echo C F Baines' praise of Richmond Council's rubbish collection?

The overall reliability of the recycling collection in particular has improved and the blue boxes are a big improvement on the white bags.

The brave decision to make this change has, I think, been justified.

I might suggest two ways of encouraging recycling even further: Arranging the collection of plastic wrapping, and (perhaps more controversially) adopting the Dutch practice of charging for each bag of non-recyclable rubbish, but streamlining it so that the charge reflects the weight.

This would encourage folks not only to recycle more, but particularly to recycle the bulkiest category of rubbish - food waste.

We are the fourth most efficient London borough at recycling. Let's be the first!

NICHOLAS DE MATTOS via email