IN THE debate on how we manage waste (Greens slam waste strategy, September 8), Coun Andrew Waller again says: "York's Greens have voted against recycling expansion and waste minimisation."

We only voted against recycling schemes we felt were not properly thought out, for example fortnightly collections that initially provided no kerbside collection of cardboard and plastics.

We support Coun Waller's call for Government funding, but for measures to help cut waste, not to build expensive waste treatment plants that perpetuate wasteful consumption of resources.

Anyone seeking to examine the financial burden the Lib-Dem and Labour parties are pushing on the city should look at the Executive meeting papers for March 27, 2007 for details of the "affordability gap". In simple terms, even with PFI money we face an extra one per cent on council tax in 2009/10, rising to an extra 7.5 per cent (£5m) in 2013/14 just for this rubbish plant (incinerator) that we will then be paying for over 25 years.

Once built, if it fails to meet emission standards (or fails in some other way), as Sheffield found out with its incinerator in the 1990s, we are committed to repairing or replacing it, with a contract that prevents us promoting alternative ways of managing or reducing our waste.

The county and city councils have already committed resources to this strategy, without any meaningful consultation, but not yet identified where to put this treatment plant', other than saying it will not be within the city of York.

Government planning-rule changes could mean local people have little chance to block major projects such as incinerators and nuclear power plants. I urge Coun Waller to start talking to his electorate about this strategy rather than just peddling half-truths about the past.

Coun Andy D'Agorne, Green Party, Broadway West, York.