Cleaning up

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency has said that Scotland will struggle to meet its target of recycling 40 per cent of rubbish by the end of 2010 (your report, 12 May).

The Scottish Government set a target to recycle 70 per cent of waste by 2025. If the UK does not achieve ongoing targets, then the European Union will levy harsh fines, which the taxpayer will fund – yet again.

Unemployment in Scotland is 216,000 and there are 221,000 on incapacity benefit. I suggest this huge manpower pool could be utilised to achieve the targets, thus benefiting our environment. To earn their benefits these people should be put to work on what is a low-tech sorting job.

To continue to get their benefits, the individual must work for four months in a year sorting rubbish. Surely a modest demand in return for their yearly benefits totalling 13 billion? This might lead to long-term employment. If they refuse to sort rubbish, then benefits should stop automatically. No ifs, no buts, no maybes.

CLARK CROSS

Springfield Road

Linlithgow, West Lothian