Sir,

I would like to share some information about Green Waste collection, and the history behind it in East Monmouthshire.

The need to recycle is understood by everyone. The EU put demands on all Member Nations to recycle in the early part of this new century, placing targets and demands which held heavy penalties if not achieved.

Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) were, maybe, first in setting out well thought out plans to encourage us to recycle and provide the tools for us to do this.

Around 2002/ 2003, MCC funded vehicles and collection staff wages, in a partnership with a private firm to deal with Green Waste.

At that time, the partner charged some £20 less per tonne to drop Green Waste into their facility than the landfill sites.

A very conservative estimate of 60 tonnes per day was collected, from day one, by three large 'bin wagons' and a tipper truck (used for less accessible lanes etc).

Per week this would amount to 300 tonnes. Annually, therefore, 15,000 tonnes.

This alone amounts to £300,000 saved from landfill fees.

MCC, quite rightly, had huge plaudits. Given the life of the vehicles, the savings long term would be enormous, help keep down our Council Tax/ Community Charge (call it what you will) and help protect the environment by turning Green Waste into a hugely beneficial mulch, compost and, with the aid of vermiculture, a very nutrient-rich growing medium.

What then may have changed? Why, if this paid for itself, do we face charges?

The vast amount of Green Waste collected cannot naturally bio-degrade quickly. The site used could not cope. Eventually the leaching (juices from decomposure) spoiled the water table and the site was stoppped from accepting any more.

We have, inevitably, come across the same problems from recycling as not recycling. There's not enough land to do it safely.

My guess, therefore, is that given less facilities to recycle Green Waste, the Gate Fee (dumping charge) has become at least equal to landfill.

In order to meet EU Recycling Charges, we have to continue to recycle such vast quantities or face massive fines as a government/ local authority.

Sadly this is the law of supply and demand in action.

Someone is still making a fortune out of recycling and MCC, (and all other local authorites) has to pick up the bill.

I just wish that local authorities would be more transparent and explain why there exists the need to increase charges, not just say that 'It's coming soon'.

I'd hate to be in charge of the monitoring and fee collection proccess, if and when it happens. A mountain of problems, vast amounts of red tape and more tax payers' money.

How on Earth did we cope before? My only suggestion is that Green Waste collection, if we end up having to pay for it as an extra, is done on the basis of a separate bag that we have to purchase.

This way, we are in control of what we choose to 'dump' or compost/ burn like we used to.

David Wilding

(Monmouth)