PILOT schemes letting local councils to charge extra for rubbish collections remove the direction of anger that will be generated from central government to the council office. What spineless decisionmakers we have put in power.

There are no measures being put in place to control the people who generate most of the rubbish that householders have to dispose of - the manufacturers or retailers, who, through either packaging or advertising, account for most rubbish people are left to dispose of.

Most retailers use packaging to extend the shelf life of products with profit in mind and no concern for the environment. That is left to the purchaser of their products through local taxation.

You don't see market traders selling wares wrapped in fancy packaging. A white or brown paper bag is all that is needed and the purchaser has no complaint about that.

Any extra revenue the Government wants to raise through environmental taxes should come from the packaging and advertising industry, but it keeps taking the easy way out and taxes people more.

Brenda Snowdon, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham.

HEARING that the Government has backed pilot schemes to allow local authorities to charge for the collection of refuse I was reminded of an old song, name escapes me, which goes like this: "We'll charge you once, we'll charge you twice, we'll charge you once again."

Every time the Government issues new charges and/or gives advice on food, for example, it is the poorest section of the community which will suffer most. New Labour intends to ensure the poor are always with us.

John W Antill, Darlington.

IN the last 16 years I have been in business and I have had more rubbish sent to me through the post along with numerous copies of tax returns. Once, I was sent seven copies of the same form. When I informed the tax office I was told "just bin them". Not a problem then, but if we are going to have to pay for getting rid of rubbish, let the Government get its house in order.

For a start, it should pass a law that all companies sending mail shots provide a free return envelope and then they can pay for getting rid of their own rubbish.

A law could also be passed that all the leaves blown into my garden, which for 30 years I have willingly cleaned up and disposed of, can be given back to the owner of the trees or you could bill them for getting rid of them. Some may say "daft", but why not? It is no more stupid than some New Labour laws forced on us.

Before long we will have inspectors in the bathroom measuring the depth of bath water.

Damn it, there I go giving them another stupid idea, or is it already in the pipeline?

Malcolm Stubley, Barnard Castle, Co Durham.