THE introduction of the kerbside recycling collection in Norton has caused comment recently. It is, however, high time to move to a new way of dealing with waste.

The way we are living creates huge amounts of waste. Ryedale District Council's own figures show that it is collecting 50pc more refuse in its vehicles compared with ten years ago. Household waste is increasing here by around 4pc a year. No longer is a weekly household rubbish collection dumped in the nearest landfill an adequate response. The environmental and economic costs of continuing this would be too great.

Strategies for new ways of dealing with waste on a regional basis are being produced. Our region (Yorkshire and Humber) has a lot of catching up to do as it has one of the worst recycling rates in England, at 6pc. Britain as a whole does not compare well, having one of the lowest recycling rates in Europe at 11pc. Austria manages 64pc. Experience shows that kerbside recycling collections help to deliver higher recycling rates.

As a proportion of council tax, refuse/recycling collections and waste disposal account for only a small amount. According to local authority figures, the average Ryedale household pays around £30 for collections and a further £35 for disposal, which amounts to less than 6pc of the overall Band D council tax.

Besides having environmental and economic benefits, recycling will also have the benefit of creating thousands of jobs in Britain. It does require householders to participate, but most of us can do that, particularly when it's made easy by the provision of kerbside collections.

JOSIE DOWNS

York and Ryedale Friends of the Earth

Updated: 11:55 Wednesday, November 19, 2003