A LEADING councillor insisted he is happy to continue sending 150,000 tonnes of rubbish to landfill as long as a waste plant is not built in Pitsea.

Basildon Council is adamant it will fight Clearaway’s plan to build a plant close to Archers Field Close on the Burnt Mills Industrial Estate.

The plan comes as rubbish from across south Essex is sent to landfill sites following the failure of the Tovi Eco Park in Basildon last year. The waste at the new plant will be used to generate up to 11mw of electricity and will create ten full-time jobs as well as more opportunities during construction, the company says.

But David Harrison, chairman of the neighbourhoods and public spaces committee, insisted he would prefer rubbish to be dumped in landfills than the plan go ahead.

He said: “At this point, yes I am happy with landfill continuing if we can fight this plan.

“If it goes ahead, there will be no incentive to improve the waste disposal plans.

“Council’s need to be looking at how we collect and dispose of waste as the Government plans changes on this.

“We need to see less waste in black sacks, separation of food and garden waste and recycling too.”

Government bosses are pledging to recycle at least 65 per cent of everyday waste in black bags by 2035 with only 10 per cent being sent to landfill, as well as measures to tackle litter.

Next week, the committee is set to agree a damning response with concerns over outdated technology, economic benefit, health and noise impacts.

John Fuller, 63, group coordinator at South East Essex Friends of the Earth, said: “I am shocked at the claims and do not believe either is right.

“We want to see materials that cannot be recycled designed out of the cycle and supply chain.”

Paul Whitehair, co-founder of the Clearaway Group, said: “It will help how to sustainably manage the waste and how to create secure, low carbon sources of energy. The technology we are proposing to use is proven, and widely used.

“We have also conducted multiple assessments, including a noise impact assessment, which found residents will not be affected.

“It will be regulated by the Environment Agency who will only grant a permit if the site can prove that the environmental, technical and health requirements are in place.”