Sir, - The key statement in Frank McDonald's excellent series on our waste problem is: "Nobody cares about the mountain of waste - as long as it's carted off and dumped somewhere else".
One can argue about the various methods of disposal, landfill versus incineration, about methods of reduction, recycling, reusing etc., but the inescapable fact is that if people are allowed to export their waste then they will never implement a low waste lifestyle.
What should be the guiding principle? In the context of the West, waste produced in Co Sligo must be dealt with within the county, waste produced in the city of Galway must be treated within the city boundaries, etc.
Engineering-style solutions involving regional superdumps or vast thermal treatment plants which, although highly cost-effective simply encourage the production of waste, are not the solution. Small really is beautiful. - -Yours etc.,
John Simmie, Furbo, Co Galway.