COUNCILLOR Waller (Give us our £9m back: council plea over landfill tax, The Press, April 5) is wrong about the Government.

The landfill tax has helped to greatly reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill and to increase recycling both in York and across the country as local authorities needed this incentive to focus on this important issue.

He is also wrong in stating that no money comes back to York. York has received £2,171,997 in special grants for environmental purposes and to increase recycling. This includes £350,000 contribution to Hazel Court recycling centre, £681,000 contribution to the new eco-depot, £940,200 waste performance and efficiency grant to support recycling activities and reduce landfill, £41,900 for recycling awareness and household incentives to recycle more, £50,700 to relieve spending pressures in waste management, £108,197 for developing a joint waste strategy with North Yorkshire County Council. In fact, without this help from the Labour government the increase in recycling rates in York would not have been achieved.

Labour have always supported increased recycling in the city and have continued to push for increased recycling in terraced areas and those areas with flats that are not serviced currently. In fact, some Labour Ward Committees have purchased this service from a local community group as it is not provided by the Liberal-Democrat council.

However, we did oppose the way that alternative green bin collections were introduced without proper consultation with residents and without explaining the need for greater recycling in the city.

Coun Ruth Potter, Labour spokesperson for neighbourhood services, Chaucer Street, York.