A waste company has announced controversial plans for a commercial incinerator on an industrial estate.

Neighbouring firms and residents are objecting to the proposals by Sussex Waste Recycling, trading as Rabbit.

The company has applied to West Sussex County Council for permission for an energy recovery facility at Lancing Business Park.

The building would process about a sixth of the amount of waste expected to be processed at the controversial domestic incinerator planned for Newhaven.

It would be located on Rabbit's existing premises behind its commercial waste transfer station.

Materials would be burned to create power which would be fed into the national grid.

The new building would be 74m by 43m and 13m-high with a flue of 16m.

Waste contractor Onyx has applied to build an incinerator at Newhaven that is 170m by 55m and 24m high with a 65m chimney.

Rabbit says more than 6,000 properties, the equivalent of a quarter of Adur's homes, could be powered by the site while significantly cutting the amount of waste sent to landfill.

The firm, which has operated on the Lancing Business Park for ten years, recovers concrete, hardcore, soils, metals, plastics and batteries, mainly from builders' skips. It has to send about 120 tonnes of wood, paper and plastic packaging a day to landfill.

Rabbit held a public exhibition last year to explain its plans. It said not having to visit landfill would decrease traffic movements and emissions would be controlled.

The proposed facility would process 36,000 tonnes a year from the existing recycling facility, compared to 210,000 at Newhaven.

Greg Blurton, Rabbit's managing director, said: "This will have a positive impact on the area as we are not only reducing the amount of waste put into landfill sites, we are also generating electricity that would otherwise be made by burning fossil fuel.

"This project will make a big contribution towards a more sustainable society."

John Kelly, of Earshott Communications , who lives and works in Lancing Park, said nearby residents were bound to object.

He said: "We are concerned about traffic and pollution. We are about as close as you are going to get."

Firms in Lancing Business Park had mixed views.

One company boss, who asked not to be named, said: "We are, in common with quite a few companies, working with electronic and medical products.

"The idea of bits of dust getting out into the atmosphere isn't very good."

Peter Tyler, managing director of Fine Cut Graphic Imaging, visited the public exhibition.

He said: "I wouldn't say it is the right place, but there is never a right place. It's got to go somewhere."

Six years ago a public inquiry was held after dozens of other businesses and residents complained about Rabbit's plans to install a concrete crusher at Lancing Business Park.

The inspector ruled in Rabbit's favour and the crusher was built.

West Sussex County Council is consulting with Adur District Council.

The full planning application can be seen at the Civic Centre, Shoreham, during office hours. Comments must be received before the end of the month. Write to Peter Davies, Head of Planning and Community, Civic Centre, Ham Road, Shoreham BN43 6PR.