Campaigners have joined forces to wipe out potentially harmful landfill sites.

Zero Landfill has been set up by actions groups in Thakeham and Washington, near Storrington, and Small Dole, near Steyning.

The campaigners hope to end the practice of burying rotting rubbish underground.

They say landfill is harmful to the environment because the break-down of waste produces greenhouse gases. Landfill sites could also damage the health of people living close by them by polluting local water supplies.

All groups involved in Zero Landfill are opposing existing or potential tips in their own communities.

People in Small Dole have lived with a landfill site in one form or another for the last 40 years.

They hoped to see the end of current contractors Viridor Waste Management at the site last month.

But residents were appalled to learn West Sussex County Council extended their licence to tip non-hazardous waste metres from their home until 2010.

Small Dole Action Group spokesman Chris Warren said: "The landfill site has been there for two generations, harming our health by polluting the air we breathe. The sooner we stop land filling and start using other alternatives, the better for everyone in Small Dole and everywhere else."

Campaigners from Thakeham Village Action hope the new group will end the threat of a potential landfill site at Laybrook Brickworks.

Chanctonbury Landfill Action Group was formed in 2006 against proposals by Veolia Environmental Services to turn a sand quarry in Washington into a landfill site.

The site borders an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is an underground reservoir, feeding fresh waters into the water supply.

Chanctonbury spokesman John Auckland said: "We are completely opposed to plans for a landfill site at Rock Common in Washington. It would devastate the quality of life in this area for decades. But no landfill site anywhere can be acceptable. By working together, hopefully Zero Landfill will help secure a more responsible future for waste management across the UK".

Zero Landfill was set up after a Waste Summit organised by Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert.

Mr Herbert said: "I'm delighted that the three groups have formed a common body to campaign to eliminate biodegradeable landfill.

"I'm convinced that Britain needs to kick its habit of dumping rubbish in landfill sites. We must reduce waste and move towards far greater rates of recycling. I will support Zero Landfill in any way that I can, and I believe that it will be a strong new voice for the change which our communities need."