I WRITE regarding the fortnightly waste collections in Witchford. This proposal is just a cost-saving measure under the guise of recycling. It is a health hazard to have kitchen waste in a bag for 14 days, especially in hot weather. Perhaps this is why t

I WRITE regarding the fortnightly waste collections in Witchford.

This proposal is just a cost-saving measure under the guise of recycling. It is a health hazard to have kitchen waste in a bag for 14 days, especially in hot weather.

Perhaps this is why these trials take place in the winter. Obviously, reduced waste collections tend to promote a greater need to recycle, but this is being confused with a suggested overall reduction in waste.

Even a trial away from Grunty Fen will still result in householders taking their waste to the nearest local recycling centre. People can be encouraged to recycle and will do so, but any reduction in collection services will have the reverse effect and cause them to dump it all at the local recycling centre.

The main problem is that East Cambridgeshire District Council is being disingenuous in its claims because it knows from its own figures

that they cannot claim a reduction in waste at the tip.

Because there is a natural reduction in black bag waste when residents separate the material for recycling it is far more logical to increase the collections of recycled materials (especially the kitchen waste) to weekly and reduce the black bag collection to fortnightly. With lower volume of black bag waste there will be need for less men and vehicles.

This saving can offset costs for recycling. I have written to Gerald Tickner at ECDC twice. Fortnightly collections will lead to health

hazards and fly tipping and are not in the interests of ratepayers - and will not promote environmental benefits.

BRIAN ALLEN

Witchford