Letter: Clearing up confusion over cardboard recycling

I feel the need to respond to an article in the November 26 edition of the Shropshire Star, entitled 'Campaigner forces recycling axe debate'.

Firstly, can I point out that the ban on cardboard from green bins is not the result simply of a decision by Veolia and that they are merely correctly responding and adhering, to a directive. It is not appropriate to blame them.

Apart from the irrelevant fact that collecting cardboard in the green bin was technically kerbside, it was only composted and only a certain amount of card could be incorporated into the mix ratio. Obviously, composting is a form of recycling but because of this limitation, nowhere near as efficient as recycling it as a separate material in its own right.

For those not too sure of the reason for the ban, it was not because of this inefficiency, but of inks and dyes polluting green waste.

Could those responsible for submitting the information for this article, please enlighten us as to 'sustainable fashion' by which Telford disposes of its cardboard. The article does correctly state that 'Shropshire Council – not Veolia, alone – must work harder and faster to find a way...', but I would like to know what it is that Councillor John Tandy says the public are doing to get something started up.

It's all very well for an article to pose questions but this one gives no answers. It does, however, justly point out that 'it – (presumably the card ban) – is not the general public's fault' but it isn't really the fault of any particular body – not Veolia's or of the local authority, for that matter.

Simon Forrester

Wem