CAN I please reply to Mrs Ashdown of Hilperton reference her efforts to recycle aluminium foil?

Firstly, may I congratulate her on being so public spirited and environmentally conscious. It is very comforting to know that our service is so well thought of and that future generations are being spared the real problems our refuse would generate.

Regarding aluminium foil, the problem is that there is so little of it and it weighs so light! Gone are the days when all households had a milk delivery topped with foil, the major source of household aluminium, most homes now buying their milk in plastic cartons at the supermarket.

It takes many months to collect enough to form even one ball, and then many months more before we have enough to fill a full load, which is all the smelters will take from us. Simply running to the smelters once every three months with a single ball would be economic nonsense.

Furthermore, for operational reasons, the foil Mrs Ashdown collected cannot be dealt with in the same load as cans, except at the cost of reducing the price paid to us by the brokers.

This does distress me, but unfortunately, we also have to live within the world of economics.

However, I would like to end on a positive note. With the introduction of kerbside commingled collections in large areas of the district this summer, provided enough households will collect all their aluminium foil, it should raise the quantity high enough to warrant separating and dealing with, which, as Mrs Ashdown points out, happens in Bath.

Certainly, I can promise that the whole scheme is under review and it is my intention to start recycling foil as soon as possible.

Indeed, if every household in the district collected all their foil, enough money would be raised each year to pay for a new BMW Mini! Surely that must be worthwhile?

HORACE PRICKETT,

Portfolio Holder for Service Delivery,

West Wiltshire District Council.