Plastic poser

COLLECTION of recyclable plastics is not recycling — the key question to be asked is: is there a market for the product? Less than 10 per cent of plastics can be put to a new use.

Plastics are sophisticated products that underpin much of today’s highly developed lifestyle.

Completely new markets, such as incorporating plastics into potholes in roads, would be an exciting new area to explore.

Incineration with energy recovery has been widely used in Switzerland and Scandinavia for decades, with clean- up technology and lower emissions that make it acceptable.

There could be a beneficial outcome from these approaches, but perceived historical wisdoms and politically correct thinking will lead to less than optimal outcomes.

MARTIN DENNISON, Surrey.