Waste of time

News that the City of Edinburgh Council is considering the introduction of charging for brown bin garden waste collections pose san interesting dilemma. While such a scheme would appear to be logical from the perspective of raising more funds to cover the provision of local services it would appear to be illogical should the council wish to progress the health of Edinburgh residents as well as the sustainability of our planet.

If residents are discouraged, or in effect penalised, for maintaining flourishing gardens we will all be breathing poorer quality air and seeing even less of the birds and other wildlife that contribute positively to our lives. Whether the end result of such a move by the council is to have more trees cut down and shrubs permanently replaced by paving, decking or new building, or whether the result is to have more vehicles driving along our already congested roads to have garden waste removed and processed at recycling centres, a decision to introduce such a charging scheme would appear to lack foresight of the implications for our environment.

With plastic recycling now generally encouraged through the provision of additional collection boxes in most council areas and are fund scheme for plastic bottles being considered by the Scottish Government, it would appear the council is looking to swim against the tide of growing environmental responsibility to meet short-term budgetary goals. A more creative approach to addressing financial concerns might be to consider innovative ways of collecting and processing garden vegetation for a potentially huge range of commercial uses which would not only foster long- term benefits for Edinburgh residents but help all of us to live healthier lives. STAN GRODYNSKI

Gosford Road Longniddry, East Lothian