NO site in Brighton and Hove is suitable for incinerators to burn waste, councillors have been told.

A series of questions about energy from waste plants was asked at a full meeting of the council by Green councillor Rik Child last night.

East Sussex County Council has been working with Brighton and Hove on a joint waste plan.

Last month, East Sussex councillors rejected plans for an incinerator at Newhaven and asked Brighton and Hove to look for a site within its own boundaries.

Originally three sites were looked at in the town for incinerators - Sheepcote Valley, the SEGAS depot at Black Rock and Shoreham Harbour.

But they were all ruled out last year and Coun John Ballance said nothing had changed to make any of them suitable.

Coun Child said there could be problems with incineration as a safe way of dealing with rubbish and people were in favour of intensive recycling as an alternative. But Coun Ballance said: "The Green Party should stop scaremongering. There is not massive opposition to incineration. Many favour energy from waste over landfill."

Coun Ballance said that recycling was an essential part of the waste strategy but not the sole answer.

He added Brighton and Hove was looking at a comprehensive door-to-door waste recycling service in the years ahead but was meanwhile considering a limited trial scheme involving collecting waste paper.

Brighton and Hove will meet East Sussex shortly to discuss a way forward.

It is possible the tip at Beddingham will be recommended for an incinerator, although

that would provoke widespread local opposition and it is in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

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