AS someone who started out in life in an era in which working men usually had one best suit for Sunday and working clothes for the rest of the week, I can understand why some people frown on the present consumer society.

In the clothes line alone most people are bursting their wardrobes.

And while we're all being encouraged to keep on spending -- it's the only thing that's staving off recession, we keep being told -- there are other organisations trying to steer us in completely the other direction.

I can't imagine them being all that successful.

As readers of this column will know I enthusiastically applaud the efforts of all recyclers. I am a keen composter myself (well, it is great for the soil and better than using up peat bogs).

With a 17.5 per cent increase in garbage volume alone in the last four years, we're rapidly running out of sites to dump the waste, let alone contaminate water courses and ferment dangerous explosive gases with the stuff.

So from all sides we're being encouraged to find new ways of solving the problem. A little too enthusiastically and unrealistically in some cases I fear.

Here, according to some official recycling advice reaching me recently, are a few tips that we should all be considering:

Tip No 1: "Try to avoid items that have lots of packing as this creates a lot of unnecessary waste." Well, I can just imagine the scene in the local electrical store when the family's just had a demo of the latest home cinema TV system.

Dad: "It's tremendous. Best TV we've ever seen. We all love it -- especially the kids. But we can't buy it, I'm afraid. Sorry."

Salesman: "What's wrong? Is it the price?"

Dad: "No, it's the packaging. There's just too much of it, you see. All those boxes. All that polystyrene. So bulky."

Salesman: "Well, we'll unpack it for you -- just bring you the equipment."

Dad: "Won't make any difference. You'll still have to get rid of the stuff. We can't inflict all that cardboard and stuff on the public. Sorry."

Tip No 2: Use real nappies rather than disposable ones.

Now when my kids were born there were no disposable ones. And I remember the house looking more like a laundry with piles waiting to be washed, piles being washed and piles waiting to be reused. Can you imagine any modern mums actually going back to scraping off and washing cotton nappies? Get a grip.

Tip No 3: Share items with your family, friends and neighbours such as books -- even items of clothing!

"'Scuse me, Deb. Any chance of borrowing that new £500 dress for my brother's wedding tomorrow? Oh! and can we borrow Bill's new shoes -- my hubby doesn't have a decent pair to his name?"

Might have worked in the 1920s. Not now I think.

Tip No 4: Don't throw away broken items that could easily be mended -- it often costs less to mend old items than to buy new ones.

Well, I happen to be a refugee from the "make do and mend" society. My grandfather taught me and I have always mended everything that I could.

I am still mending my toys for my grandchildren. But even I know my limitations.

And I know what I'd have got if I had suggested having a new motor fitted in the old twin tub rather than buy one of these new electronic 100 miles an hour, switch-on, wash, heat, spin, dry and watch the telly jobs.

Tip No 5: Think before you buy -- do you really need your new purchase?

No, no, you're right. I'll not bother replacing my clapped out Lada. I'll walk. Will you tell Sir Eddie George, or should I?

Tip No 6: Refuse to accept junk mail -- send it all back!

Now that's something with which I definitely can agree.