Many people will have shared my disgust at the recent figures from the Local Government Association, branding Britain as the Dustbin of Europe. Three-quarters of the 150 surveyed councils exceeded the Commission s minimum requirements for their use of res

Many people will have shared my disgust at the recent figures from the Local Government Association, branding Britain as the Dustbin of Europe. Three-quarters of the 150 surveyed councils exceeded the Commission's minimum requirements for their use of resources overall. UK households send almost 27 million tonnes of rubbish to landfill every year, equivalent to almost half a tonne for every home in the country. Germany, which has a population 25% larger than the UK, disposes of less than half the amount of rubbish into the ground. This black hole of waste is a sad reflection on ten years of Labour government.

With this need to reduce packaging to the minimum, I am glad that in Highgate we continue to have green grocers, butchers, bakers and other shops selling unpackaged food, all of which rely on the support of local people to stay open. If people do not support local shops we will see more situations like the impending closure of Cavours, one of the last old fashioned ironmongers left in North London, on Swains Lane and Highgate West Hill.

Paul Barton

Cllr, Highgate Ward