I have to say the letter from Bill Brison is totally confusing and misleading.

The chips fitted to Bury's blue bins cannot weigh the bin, smell it or video it - in fact they can only record the address of the bin.

Had this authority any thoughts about introducing a stealth tax, as your reader points out, the chip would certainly have been fitted on the grey bin (waste to landfill).

As a council, we have tried to make it easy for everyone to understand what they can and cannot put into the blue bin.

Our leaftlets, delivered to each household on the scheme, indicate what is appropriate.

On the inside of every bin lid there is a sticker which tells you again what is appropriate and what is not.

Our website and our customer service centre also provide more information for any member of the public who is unsure. The importance of being able to accurately record who participates in Bury's recycling scheme was a fundamental condition of the grant award from DEFRA.

We are responsible for informing the government office for our performance.

So, as you can see, there is no hidden agenda, just a determined effort to cut the costs of landfill, maximise government grants and, need I say, help save the planet!

COUNCILLOR JOHN BYRNE Executive member for environment and transport