Tour studies waste alternatives

Residents living near the site opposed the plans

A group of Cornwall councillors has visited five areas of southern England to see different waste technologies.

They were looking for an alternative to incineration after plans for a plant in mid-Cornwall were rejected.

Members of Cornwall's waste development advisory panel spent two days touring sites in Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and London.

The panel said the trip had helped its investigations into finding a solution for Cornwall's waste.

Among the technologies the panel saw were anaerobic digestion, mechanical biological treatment and gasification.

Health risks claim

In March, the former county council rejected plans for a £117m incinerator at St Dennis. Planning officials had advised the authority to grant the application.

The waste operator, Sita, has appealed against the ruling. A final decision on the plant will be made by government ministers.

There was widespread opposition to the incinerator, with hundreds of local people signing a petition against it.

Residents claimed the plant was too big, poorly located and could pose health risks.

Sita said 200,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste produced in Cornwall every year would be burned to generate enough electricity to power 21,000 homes, if the plant was built.