I WELCOME constructive suggestions from anybody, but the advice proffered by David Crausby on the waste collection service is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

In his eagerness to score political points, the Bolton North East MP only demonstrates his lack of knowledge of the real issues faced by Bolton Council. Perhaps I can remind him.

Government targets mean that we have to recycle 20 per cent of our waste this year (2005/6), rising to 33 per cent in 2010/11 and 50 per cent after that.

If we fail, we face penalties of £150 a tonne. Based on the levels of waste and recycling in the last full year of the previous Labour administration, this would cost us in excess of £2 million.

When the new system of alternate weekly collection (green box, green bin, and paper one week, grey bin and paper the other week) is fully operational across Bolton, this will cost more than the "old" system of a grey bin collection every week.

However, to keep the green box, green bin, and return to a grey bin collection every week would increase costs by over £2.5 million a year - over three per cent on the council tax - as well as leading to a drop in recycling levels with the risk of penalties. We might just achieve the 20 per cent target, but have little likelihood of meeting the higher targets.

The recently announced Government Grant settlement for next year means that we will be faced with making further large cuts to our budget, and services, to keep the council tax down, plus the possibility of facing capping if we do not.

I know David has been briefed on the problems the council will face as a result of that, but in his letter he pretends these problems do not exist, and that we can conjure the extra £2.5 million out of thin air.

As a nation, we are throwing too much away and expecting to put our waste in holes in the ground. Recycling is a lot more important for the planet than the figures I mention here, but we also have a responsibility to take care of the resources of the council.

David, your own Government's independent assessors recognise that Bolton is an excellent authority, both in the level of services provided and in value for money. Under Liberal Democrat control, Bolton has improved on the performance achieved under Labour and that while having to take some of the difficult decisions Labour avoided.

Roger G C Hayes

Executive Member

Environmental Services

Bolton Council