I WRITE in response to correspondent Disappointed Taxpayer (April 1).

May I clarify the situation which your correspondent described in relation to the Good Friday rubbish collection at March Drive in Bury and reassure residents there - and everywhere in the borough - that no recyclable items are being wasted by the council.

The council is totally committed to making the kerbside recycling scheme a success and we rely on the goodwill and practical support of all residents to ensure the council can meet its recycling targets and help make the borough cleaner, safer and greener.

The process is as follows:

The councils recycling collector will use a clean refuse bin to collect the contents of the black box. The refuse bin itself will hold the contents of approximately four or five black boxes. When the refuse bin is full the contents will be wheeled to the refuse collection vehicle where it will be deposited.

All the contents in the rear of this vehicle are recyclable materials for transfer to our processor. None is going to landfill.

While the council has restored a weekly collection of residual waste, the fortnightly collection of recyclable waste from the black boxes continues. But these are totally separate operations.

MIKE SAVAGE,

borough operational

services officer.