Hi Folks, just a few things to report. First is that we have a new look for our web site, if you are a past visitor you will of course have already noticed!! This change came about as a result of a poll we did on a couple of web forums, almost without exception people told us they did not like our header, so it's gone and we have our new plainer header, hope you like it.

Postal Prices - We have changed couriers and now use Parcel Force for all deliveries except small accessories for which we will continue to use Royal Mail. We have done this to keep prices competitive but also to make it easier for people that are out during the day. IF you are not in when Parcel Force attempt delivery you can have it redelivered or pick it up from the nearest depot. Customer feedback suggests this will be a popular move.

Some words about Reuse versus Recycling.

Our local Council have just signed a 25 year deal with WRG (Waste Recycling Group) who will now be operating the local amenity sites on the councils' behalf. Large amounts of money have been spent redeveloping the Reading site at Island Road, a similar redevelopment has just begun at Bracknell's Longshott Lane site. This may appear to be progress but from a reuse point of view it is an absolute disaster.

The problem is that now when you dump stuff it goes down a huge drop in to skips, essentially putting the vast majority of items beyond use. this is a tragedy when you think that every week a huge amount of stuff used to be pulled out by resident totters. The goods used to be sold at local auctions or to trade buyers like ourselves, this opportunity has been lost now and all these reusable items are now being destroyed rather than reused.

I have written to our MP about this and would encourage all residents of Bracknell, Wokingham and Reading to do the same.

I am dismayed that our councils and councillors preach about their green credentials but can sign a 25 year waste management deal with a company whose foundation is in the running of landfill sites and not see any conflict of interest. We have got a very bad deal from all this - landfill tax is now £38 per tonne, it is set to rise to £102 per tonne by 2011 - it is the council tax paying citizens that have to foot the bill, it is an outrage that nothing is being done to allow the reuse of materials and goods. I have tried to negotiate a way of putting items deposited at the site back to use but have been blanked by the council and the site operators.

I did attempt to take some photographs with which to emphasise my point but was ejected from the site by 2 large men.

On a lighter note - there is a great new hi fi forum that I like to visit, you can find it at http://www.theartofsound.net/forum/ do say hello when joining, there is a thread just for that purpose. Nice guys on there and the moderators are sensible human beings that allow chat but no nastiness.

All the best and may your God go with you,

Dave,

Green Home Electronics.