Recycling..a must if we have any thought for the future.

I am publishing below the text of a letter I wrote to the Press in answer to what I considered to be a very irresponsible letter published by Councillor Popple.
He took no part in the investigations that led the working group to make it recommendations to the full council. He could have if he so wished. It's a bit like someone trying to pick a team when they have watched no training or ever watched the players playing and then criticising the coach when he picks a team.
I sent in the letter below on Tuesday last but by Saturday it still had not been published. Why?

"Where has Councillor Popple been since 13th July 2006 when a Task Group was set up to examine the options for recycling? A report, which showed that Scarborough had one of the lowest recycling rates in the country (18%), was a warning that something had to be done. If we were to do nothing we were certain to be given ever increasing fines by the Government.
It would have been totally irresponsible to do nothing.
Yes, Councillor Popple, have you forgotten that a Pilot scheme has been tried in Filey? That showed some of the pitfalls but resources limited its expansion. After many hours of work looking at the options a very dedicated working group made a recommendation to Cabinet in December 2006 and Full Council accepted this in January. Where were you then Cllr. Popple?
At the end of February the Full Council, again with Cllr. Popple present, voted a budget for the new scheme. Money was at last being committed to this most vital task.
When the scheme is about to be launched and when the necessary costs have been committed it is totally irresponsible for someone who was part of the Council that voted for the scheme to try to sabotage it. Who will suffer if we do not succeed? All of Scarborough’s council tax payers who will be penalised. The SPARSE report just published shows that 19 of the top 20 performing councils have fortnightly collections and the highest rate of recycling. That should convince anyone. At just below 20% we are a long way behind councils that recycle 40-50% but that is our target and it must be if we have any concern for our environment and the problem of waste disposal. The vast majority of the public are ready and want to begin sooner rather than later".

Councillor Brian O’Flynn
Leader Liberal Democrat Group and Chair of the Recycling Task Group.