SIR - Zac Goldsmith (Mail on Sunday, September 9) is deeply misguided in his advocacy of draconian controls to force businesses to recycle. Landfill is often the most cost-effective method of waste disposal. Both the amount of land required and the environmental impact are negligible. In contrast, recycling generally uses more economic resources than it saves. It therefore must be artificially supported by subsidies and regulations, which now cost the British economy at least £2 billion every year. Before the Conservative Party adopts green policies it should carefully consider whether the environmental benefits are really worth the economic cost.
Dr Richard Wellings
Deputy Editorial Director
Institute of Economic Affairs
London SW1
For a more detailed analysis see
Why recycling isn't really saving the planet [2] by Richard Wellings.