AS Executive Member for the Environment, I would like to respond to the letter from Dr K Davis (July 4).

The consultant's report, commissioned by all nine local authorities involved in the waste strategy, points out that on the basis of proven technology, we will not be able to meet the Government targets for recycling/composting and energy recovery in the longer term without the use of some form of incineration to generate energy from waste.

It is important that residents are aware of this as part of the consultation process to give them the choice to limit the use of incineration to a minimum, should they so wish.

This can be achieved by attempting to meet the targets through much greater public involvement in recycling, however, this will only work if residents are prepared to put in the effort to separate as much rubbish for recycling as possible. One of the ways City Of York Council can help is by continuing to expand its kerbside collection systems.

Energy from waste is an important component of UK Waste Strategy. There are new emerging technologies that involve the heat treatment of waste to produce energy that do not involve the direct incineration process. The waste strategy will provide for these new technologies as they are successfully developed.

Councillor Derek Smallwood,

Wycliffe Avenue, Tang Hall, York.

Updated: 10:40 Tuesday, July 10, 2001