SIR,
Despite considerable opposition from town councillors, our best county councillors, and hundreds of residents throughout our county, it seems that Monmouthshire County Council is hell-bent on scrapping the highly successful Black Box scheme.
The Council is steadfast in its determination to ignore experts from the recycling industry, including WRAP and the Welsh Assembly and, instead, pay homage to its own poorly researched internal report that fails to acknowledge the advantages of source-separated recycling, or the importance of securing best value services.
The Council's attitude is not just a kick in the teeth for the many volunteers and professionals working in the recycling sector who strive each day to reduce CO2 emissions and to reduce waste, but it shows a complete disregard for those trying to make a difference by raising climate change awareness through community involvement.
While efficient recycling of our newspapers will not, by itself, save our planet, the retention of cost effective source-separated recycling remains a key test as to whether our Council leaders have the capacity to make the right decisions on matters to do with climate change and sustainable development.
On other matters, and contrary to over-whelming public opinion, our Council has supported more supermarkets; the ill-fated Gwent Levels motorway; relocation of a cattle market; and controversial 'regeneration' schemes. How is it possible that so few can ignore the wishes of so many, across so many issues?
Steve Rawlings
(Chepstow)