• WHAT a pity the anonymous Labour supporter chose to attack Camden Air Action’s questionnaire on public responses to the new £75 annual garden waste collection charge, instead of working with us to see if there is a more effective way of improving recycling in the borough which doesn’t increase air pollution (Why rubbish as a political football? Letters, March 16).

Early responses to the questionnaire indicate most people will not pay the charge and will instead either take their garden waste by car to Regis Road recycling centre, burn it or dispose of it with their general household rubbish.

More than 200 Camden residents die each year from filthy air (according to the council’s own figures) and many more suffer chronic illness from living in a borough where most main roads and many residential streets we’ve monitored have illegal levels of air pollution. So surely it’s reasonable to raise alarms about a likely increase in airborne grot from extra car journeys or bonfires?

The questionnaire and related correspondence also reveal confusion about what can and can’t be recycled. For example the snazzy new council guide says plastic carrier bags and all food containers can be recycled, whereas Camden’s website says we cannot recycle black plastic sacks and black food trays (widely used by supermarkets for fruit, veg, meat and prepared meals).

Contrary to the Labour supporter’s claim, Camden Air Action is not Camden Green Party. CAA includes a number of groups who have decided to work together on this very important issue, such as the Greens, Transitions Movement and Camden Cyclists, plus Labour Party members and many others.

The CAA questionnaire is still open. Please do let us know what you think. It’s at camdenairaction.typeform.com/to/KWIf2t

We would even welcome input from the shy Labour supporter. And, yes, in case you wondered you can do so anonymously.

DEE SEARLE
Camden Air Action