COULD I suggest to Bury Council that, instead of producing more plastic items (wheelie bins, boxes and bags), it looks hard at what it can do to prevent the creation of the waste in the first place. I hear no mention at local - or Government - level of any such schemes.

My dustbin is full of material I don't want and didn't ask for. Junk mail, free newspapers and advertising material come tumbling through my letter box uninvited every day. A trip to the shops and that's the other half of the bin full!

There are two very powerful organisations at work: the oil industry, which has a vested interest in us using more and more plastic, and the retail sector (particularly the supermarket giants) which is burying us under mountains of which - make no mistake - is for their convenience, not ours!

It is to assist in easier transport, warehousing, stacking, handling and display and, more importantly, to ensure that no damage to goods occurs, resulting in financial loss to them, before we buy them. This overpackaging is really their waste - should they not foot the bill?

I compost my kitchen waste; I have my milk delivered in glass; I recycle all plastic bags and with TV, radio and the internet, I have no need for national newspapers or magazines. I actually cook food, rather than buying lots of pre-packaged goods, and I grow a lot of my own vegetables. I have tried to do my bit for years.

However, now I am to be forced to be a "rubbish separator" and, if I don't, presumably I will have a visit from the "rubbish police". My drive will look like a junk yard and, on bin day, the poor ladies with children and prams etc. will have to walk in the road.

If I can be told what I have to do to dispose of rubbish, why cant the manufacturers and sellers be told to stop creating it. Come on local councils, put pressure on Government to do something meaningful.

PRESTWICH RESIDENT