Most of the criticism directed at Sutton Council on provision for waste disposal is unfair.

Certainly some people found alternate week collection of brown rubbish unsuitable, particularly if disagreeable waste such as nappies or incontinence pads was involved.

But that has changed.

Now the main questions are how much brown waste needs to be collected and how to reduce the waste which goes to land-fill sites.

Mr Sansom (letters, January 16) is right. The amount of such waste rejected by a household does not depend on a family's size.

As a former household of six to eight, shrinking eventually to four and then less from 1999, one sack or one small wheelie bin was more than adequate. Now one supermarket-size plastic bag contains my week's waste.

With nine in the house from December 22 to 26, the brown bin was still not full, but the green one overflowed.

For many years my husband and I have asked how two or three people can fill two sacks or a wheelie bin when larger families here and in France, where I have spent a fair amount of time since my retirement in 1987, produce so little.

The council ought to investigate this huge difference in brown bin waste production by households. They should look at small waste producers as well as large ones.

I would really love to know the answer to this riddle so I can tell all my friends and family, who are as mystified as I am.

MRS F BROOKE

Heathdene Road

Wallington

January 31, 2003 13:00