SIR - I write in response to Brian Hunt's recent letter headed "Threats to public are unacceptable."

The fines in question are not being proposed for residents who do not recycle. The fines are under Section 46 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 - and are aimed at residents not presenting their refuse in accordance with the prescribed method.

Specifically, they are related to residents putting out waste in bags not in the wheeled bins and presenting 'side waste' in addition to the capacity provided within the wheeled bin. By implication, if they do not use their green wheeled bin, they will, in the majority of cases, find it difficult to have sufficient capacity for the black bin to contain all their domestic refuse.

Waste collection authorities can already serve notices on householders and businesses, specifying, for example, that they must put out their waste receptacles in certain places to facilitate waste collection. People who fail to comply can be prosecuted through the courts, facing a maximum fine of £1,000. The Clean Neighbourhoods And Environment Act introduced a £100 fixed penalty notice as a flexible alternative to prosecution.

In reality, I would suspect there would not be many fines under the existing and rather long-winded legislation. This approach has been used in order to identify the fact that the council is prepared to take action against the few who are causing the problems, rather than other council taxpayers having to continually meet the cost of clearing up for those not wishing to accept the change.

DEREK W PRODGER MBE,

Worcester City Council.