I have been following The Argus' Great Waste Debate with considerable interest from the beginning, as obviously any problems Brighton and Hove and East Sussex County Councils experience will no doubt be mirrored to some extent by West Sussex.

I now see from the European Press that Italy presents a stark warning to us. Three towns have been evacuated in the south of the country on health grounds. Rubbish is piled 10ft-high in places and a local state of emergency has been declared.

The reason is not a strike by refuse collectors, as one may suspect, but the fact that all the local rubbish tips are full.

Attempts to re-open old tips by local mayors has been met with mass demonstrations and blockades.

I recall reports of negotiations with Biffa to build and operate incinerators as part of the proposed waste strategy had fallen through, as the company itself said this was no longer sustainable in the long term. I find this very interesting, as Biffa was being consulted as one of the industry leaders. If it now takes this view, do any of your readers know if it has been asked to give councils the benefit of its knowledge and expertise in developing a new strategy?

-PR Mockridge, The Green, Southwick