I RECENTLY visited some friends in the USA. The approach to recycling is quite different in Iowa... all households recycle paper, magazines, cardboard, glass, tin and plastic each week in containers, similar to those we use ourselves in York.

In addition, all houses have waste disposal units and all food waste has to go in to it, not into the bin.

Also all houses have wheelie bins, but these are for garden rubbish only. This consequently doesn't leave much to put in your black bin liner which you leave out with all your recycling.

Should you not wish to recycle, and you need to put out more than one bin liner, you have to go to the local "drug" store and buy a yellow tag for $1 which entitles you to leave out extra rubbish.

This of course encourages people to recycle... no yellow tag, no collection. It certainly seemed a very efficient system and one which everyone participates in.

Mrs B Dunhill,

Chaucer Lane,

Strensall, York.

Updated: 09:35 Thursday, November 11, 2004