I read with interest the Labour Party's commitment to "reinstate the old refuse collection system (Letters, January 5).

The headline is misleading because, as I understand their vague, uncosted proposals, that is not what they are proposing.

They seem to be saying: "We will keep and improve the recycling, and return to weekly collection of the residual waste (grey bins)".

I have just two problems:

l It would not work (i.e. would not reach the longer-term recycling targets)

l The cost would be prohibitive, and they have come up with no rational explanation of how they would fund it.

The actions this Liberal Democrat administration has taken will almost certainly mean that Bolton will meet the 2005/6 target of 20 per cent recycling. However, experts say that a return to a weekly collection of residual waste would be followed by a drop in recycling.

More than 160 councils have moved down the same path we have taken. The only example we know of where a council has then retreated confirms that view their level of recycling has dropped.

Unlike Labour, we do not just have our eyes on reaching the 20 per cent Government target. We have to put ourselves in a good position to meet the 33pc target that will apply in 2010/11 and the 50pc target which will come after that.

Roger G C Hayes Executive Member Environmental Services Bolton Council