Plastic that goes to landfill could be burnt cleanly, as Sweden has shown

SIR – Mike Golding suggests that all plastics should be marked with recycling instructions (Letters, January 13).

Certainly many items of packaging give no indication as to whether they can be recycled. A large number simply state: “Not currently recyclable.”

There are considerable differences around the UK about what can be put out for recycling. Our neighbouring authority, West Oxfordshire, has containers at recycling collection points simply labelled “Plastics”. They can clearly accept an infinite mix of such items. However, in our county, this is not the case.

Even if all plastic-based packaging was labelled, many people cannot be bothered to separate items properly, and in addition we are still left with a multitude of plastic bags other than the carrier type, which are currently destined for landfill.

No, the best answer is for the public to be able to put all plastics together, which then go down the refusederived fuel route by which they are incinerated cleanly to recover the energy locked up in them, as Malcolm Parkin suggests in his letter of the same date.

Sweden has been doing this since the Nineties. Anyone concerned about resulting pollution should recall just how concerned the Swedes have always been about the environment. They would not consider any kind of incineration process that contaminated the environment. They have about 30 of such plants.

Unfortunately, most waste for refuse-derived fuel is exported, as we do not have sufficient such plants in Britain. We currently send thousands of tons of plastic to landfill from which we could have produced electricity. Bob Kingsland

Stroud, Gloucestershire

SIR – Mr Parkin’s suggestion that we burn plastic waste for electricity to drive electric cars is brilliant.

Electric cars are woefully inefficient energy-wise against a good modern diesel – not better than 15 per cent overall, compared to 40 per cent or slightly less for a diesel hybrid.

Why not pyrolyse the plastic to produce diesel fuel and gas? It is much more efficient energy-wise. This would also usefully extend our fossil fuel reserves.

Of course, one could persuade our notably feckless population to use less plastic in the first place, and then not to litter our otherwise green and pleasant land. That is something of a losing battle, I fear. John Hay-heddle

Sawley, Derbyshire

SIR – Here (Tendring) it would make no difference if every piece of plastic displayed recycling information. After a much disliked revamp of our refuse services we are only allowed to recycle plastic bottles. All other plastic (and other previously recyclable items such as aerosol cans and shredded paper) now go to landfill. Valerie Holmes

Frinton-on-sea, Essex