In reaction to a statement issued by Friends of the Earth (The Sunday Times, April 20), the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs reiterates that the door-to-door collection of packaging waste is far from a half- baked measure.

The government, constituted bodies and the Local Councils Association have been working tirelessly to ensure that the collection system is an all-inclusive packaging system that is workable and suits everybody's needs.

The new scheme complements the bring-in sites and it is being implemented to make it easier for the public to separate their waste at source.

Such a scheme will also help to recover more packaging waste which would otherwise end up in the waste stream.

Households will continue to be encouraged to use bring-in sites, so much so that the increased number of bring-in sites in all localities is part of the agreement being finalised with local councils.

However, for families that have difficulties using bring-in sites (especially where they have to drive to dispose of packaging waste), an alternative set-up is being launched which should effectively reduce the emissions due to the consolidation of material collection.

Naturally some issues have been raised by local councils and these are being addressed effectively by the association. This has delayed the introduction of the system.

Regarding Sant'Antnin plant, this is a semi-automated sorting plant which can easily handle the extra workload generated by this new system. Once the material is deposited at the plant all items are hand-sorted, ensuring that the quality of the scrap material is optimal for recycling.

Rather than issuing statements, it is high time for Friends of the Earth to lend a hand in the implementation of national issues such as this.

Unfortunately, their presence was non-existent even when they were invited to attend.

FOE should also keep in mind that schemes are fully privatised initiatives. It is the market that decides how many schemes should be operational on the market. The government cannot restrict the enactment of these or further shcemes.

Finally, what is being implemented here forms part of 'Producer Responsibility', a principle upon which the 2001 waste management strategy was developed.

Now that producer responsibility is being put into practice, FOE is claiming that this waste collection initiaitve does not form part of the concerted waste management strategy. The separate collection of packaging waste and bring-in sites are both in the approved document.