Councillors will discuss where to site waste facilities and recycling targets at a meeting tonight.

Recycling targets for city waste are being increased to meet new Government targets and complaints from environmentalists.

Only 11 per cent of waste in Brighton and Hove is recycled at present although this is higher than the national average.

In the latest version of the draft Waste Local Plan, being prepared jointly between the city council and the East Sussex County Council, the target will be increased to 20 per cent by 2003.

Targets are 30 per cent by 2005, 33 per cent by 2010 and 40 per cent by the time the plan ends in 2015.

Environment cabinet councillor Chris Morley said the plan would be recycling-led but added: "Even with much higher rates, there will still be a mountain of waste to deal with."

He added that was why the option of incineration was retained in the plan although no site is proposed for this within the city boundary.

There is controversy over the continued preference for Newhaven north quay as an energy from waste site.

Within Brighton and Hove, there will be a site off Sackville Road for a road to rail waste transfer station, and two recycling centres at Hollingdean and Hangleton Bottom.

The plan goes before councillors tonight so that it can be agreed in principle for the next stage of consultation.