The latest statistics once again show that Brighton and Hove City Council are well below the national average for the recycling of waste materials (Argus, April 20).

In Brighton and Hove, only 30.1 per cent of household waste is recycled compared with

the rate for England as a whole which stands at 44.1 per cent.

The issue of "contaminated" recycling, where waste is mixed with recyclable materials so has to be rejected, is clearly not the reason for the low rate of recycling in our city.

That issue of "contamination" applies to all councils and a Brighton and Hove council spokesperson stated that only 5.5 per cent of recycling is rejected in this city, which is more than ten per cent below the national average.

Residents are getting tired of the excuses that are made by this "Green" party-led council for the poor rate of recycling.

The "Greens" have been in charge for six years yet the recycling rate is barely two thirds of the average for England. It seems that they are unable to even get the basics of an environmentalist strategy working for the people of this city.

Rob Heale

Chatham Place

Brighton