Sir - There has been a great deal of debate over waste disposal in recent months. Our motto needs to be: reduce, re-use, recycle.

Here are three easy steps which any household could take to reduce dustbin waste.

1: Avoid shopping at supermarkets where products are over-packaged. Instead, use local shops and reuse plastic shopping bags or take your own canvas bag.

2: Have fruit and vegetables delivered through a veg box scheme. Nearly all schemes deliver in boxes which are returned and re-used.

3: Compost all green and kitchen waste in a plastic compost bin purchased at reduced prices through the city council offers.

They have reduced mine by about 50 per cent.

Clare Farley, Oxford