COUN Keith Orrell does right to draw the public's attention to the problems of methane gas (Letters, October 5). He states that it is 14 times more damaging to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (I believe the actual figure is 22 times).

I have no doubt that everyone remembers how, for years, we were told how wonderful the rainforest was for the world. In actual fact the rotting vegetation produced vast quantities of methane which added to the greenhouse effect.

Now we have the council collecting green waste which will have to be stockpiled before it is processed. This will aid its breaking down and will increase the production of methane.

Perhaps Councillor Orrell can tell us if the net effect will be beneficial.

Jeremy D Fox,

Malton Avenue, York.

Updated: 11:24 Friday, October 07, 2005