SIR – In response to the recent correspondence in your paper about New Barnfield, [plans to build an incinerator] I would like to reassure readers we would not support a proposal to build a waste treatment facility that would have a harmful effect on the

SIR - In response to the recent correspondence in your paper about New Barnfield, [plans to build an incinerator] I would like to reassure readers we would not support a proposal to build a waste treatment facility that would have a harmful effect on the health of residents.

I want to reiterate that we have not finalised which type of technology or what site will be used in the future as a waste treatment facility.

As part of our bid for Government funding, we had to identify a reference site and a technology which can potentially provide an appropriate solution to deal with Hertfordshire's residual waste.

We carefully considered the environmental, social, technological and economic impacts of all the various alternatives to landfill. The conclusion was that energy-from-waste with combined heat and power - a technology that is widely used throughout Europe - would be suitable.

We appreciate though that readers are concerned about the possibility of an energy-from-waste facility being built in the area.

While using this type of technology has by no means been settled upon, I would like to point out that these facilities are tightly regulated and monitored by the environmental watchdog, the Environment Agency. The planning permission and permits needed to build and operate an energy-from-waste facility sets strict limits to make sure there is no unacceptable impact on local people or the environment.

There is an extensive set of frequently asked questions on our website, www.hertsdirect.org/waste

I would strongly encourage residents to refer to these for the facts behind modern waste treatment.

I would like to end by emphasising that the county council, along with our district council partners, remains firmly committed to recycling.

We take as much recyclable material out of the waste stream as possible and will continue to do so in the future, but we cannot escape our responsibility to deal with the residue.

Derrick Ashley,

Executive member for environment, planning and waste,

Hertfordshire County Council.