I NOTE the city is introducing a 50 per cent cutback in refuse services. I, along with 60,000 other York residents, have received their leaflet pretending to champion recycling when, in fact, it is a Trojan horse for a massive reduction in service.

Our refuse is now only going to be collected every two weeks and between times we get a garden refuse collection and the existing recycle collection.

I recycle all our garden rubbish so have none to throw away into the green bin. But we do need our refuse emptying every week.

The wheelie bin gives our family only 1.8 cubic feet of space per person and we use that each week. I do not regard that as extravagant.

There is not enough room in the small green box for all our recycling so for this to work we would need five of the small green recycling boxes to make up for the loss in volume of the refuse bin.

I also notice this is being introduced in time for winter when garden waste will be minimal, hence maximising the statistical benefits at the council's initial "what-a- good-job-we-are-doing" meetings.

The council is here to serve us, not the other way around. If people need a weekly refuse collection they should get it, especially as the council rate is based on the fact that we should get one.

What would the council have to say if I made a similar reduction to my council tax payments?

Paul Hodgson,

North Lane,

Wheldrake,

York.

Updated: 11:06 Thursday, August 25, 2005