HAVING just moved back to Poole, after living in Devon, I was appalled to see the decision of Poole Council to charge for garden waste collection.

As a ratepayer, I already pay for my waste disposal.

What is now proposed is that local residents who do not bother to separate recylable materials, or compostable garden waste – both of which can generate income to the council – can have rubbish collected free.

Those of us who make an effort to separate organic material are to be charged. This, despite the fact that organic matter in landfill sites is a major environmental and safety hazard – adding to global warming, and creating potentially explosive gasses.

In Devon, under a Conservative council, we had a large wheelie for all garden and kitchen waste, collected fortnightly.

This was achieved by also collecting general rubbish only fortnightly. We had no smells or vermin problems, and comparable rates with Poole.

Where is the greenest government yet, that David Cameron promised us?

MARTIN PRICE, Ebor Road, Parkstone