The ever-growing problem of waste disposal has to be sorted out properly. Both domestic and commercial waste, have to be controlled and dealt with in an economic and effective manner.

Rather than adding to the waste problem with mountains of gimmicky press releases, we must increase the amount of waste, which is recycled. The money from the Land Fill Tax should be targeted on the provision of doorstep recycling for every household in the county. Having spent £600,000 on a building and plant to deal with recycling at Dimmer, why has this now been closed because of lack of use.

The local tip is not a business commodity, which is available for sale to every other local authority. It has to be managed on a long-term basis for the benefit and well being of the people and businesses in Somerset.

There is a noticeable increase in " Fly Tipping " in the rural areas, and the policing arrangements to stop this have to be much more effective. I will press for not only a clarification of the law on dumping, but also a clear understanding of the responsibility for removing the dumped items. Wherever possible we have to put in place a charging system to obtain restitution for the cost of removal.

We have to move forward to a more effective method

of recycling if we want to reduce our dependence on land fill