I FEEL compelled to respond to S A Grieve, managing director of Yorwaste (Letters October 7).

The Government has made a commitment to Europe to reduce landfill and to increase waste recycling. Waste recycling is an industrial process; there is no valid planning, environmental or economic argument as to why such a facility should be placed in the green belt.

Planning law is straightforward; any application for development in the green belt must demonstrate that no other site exists. All other sites, whether owned by Yorwaste or not, must be evaluated and proved to be unsuitable.

I have yet to hear one valid reason as to why the historic setting of York should be further compromised to satisfy Yorwaste's desire for profits. Harewood Whin receives 250,000 tonnes of waste a year. York generates 150,000 tonnes - the remainder comes from as far afield as Manchester. Why should the city's narrow green belt continue to be the dumping area for the North's waste? Why are Yorwaste's waste returns not available on the public register as required in law?

Perhaps last year's £1.5 million profit provides the answer. How a proposal to defile and despoil 70 acres of green belt can be presented as environmentally friendly is beyond belief.

P J Warden,

RALLY,

Residents Against Landfill Lunacy in York,

Bradley Lane, Rufforth, York.