We very much value everyone's contribution to the debate on how we are to dispose of our waste. We would, however, like to clarify a number of points raised in last week's letter from Friends of the Earth.

Mrs Carver talked about incineration as if it was the only option being considered in the plan.

In fact incineration without energy recovery is our least favoured option and no household waste dealt with by the Wiltshire local authorities is incinerated.

Furthermore, the use of some waste products as fuel at the Westbury Cement Works has no connection with the Waste Local Plan.

We have developed a waste hierarchy, which we have agreed in conjunction with a wide variety of partners, including environmental groups.

This sets out the way in which we manage our waste, in a preferred order.

Our top priority is waste reduction, followed by a strong emphasis on recycling and composting. We, too, have made compost bins available at a discounted rate.

Our third priority is energy recovery, using new technologies. We would, therefore ,only consider incineration if energy was created and it was the best option in environmental terms.

We are working to achieve national targets for recycling. These require us to double our achievement within the next five years.

Wiltshire cannot be fairly compared to urban areas such as Bournemouth. Recycling rates in towns tend to be higher because of their greater concentration of population.

In a recent best value study of shire counties, Wiltshire had the second highest recycling and composting rate in the country.

Hills hold a contract to deal with waste collected by authorities in Wiltshire. The contract runs for 20 years, not 25, and we are five years into this period.

The contract is flexible and is being revised to meet the new national targets for recycling and composting.

Hills currently recycles plastic on our behalf they do not burn it and there are no plans to do so.

Waste is a problem for all of us. We intend to continue increasing recycling and composting as fast as we can, but we also need the co-operation of the general public to do this.

We want to make sure we do it in the best way possible, for the environment and the community.Here we are in total agreement with Friends of the Earth.

The full draft plan is available at your local library, council offices and online at www.waswaste.org.

You can also make comments on a Freepost form, available where you view the plan or tel (01225) 713429.

Andy Conn

Team Leader, Waste Local Plan

Wiltshire County Council