Waste plans up in smoke

His comments, at a meeting of the cabinet, will be seen as a victory to campaigners who battled to stop a £40m waste incinerator being built in Kidderminster.

But it means it is back to the drawing board for the county council and contractor, Severn Waste Services (SWS), who still have to find a way to meet Worcestershire's waste targets.

At the meeting, cabinet members voted to continue discussions with SWS, with which the council has signed a 25-year contract, to consider alternative disposal solutions.

"I have always been in favour of incineration," Dr Lord said.

"But in this county it is a dead duck."

Councillor Alwyn Davies said it was time for the county to look forward.

"We know what has happened and we know that maybe an incinerator is not something that this county will consider but we have to come up with a solution," he said.

"If we are going to achieve recycling targets we have to have everyone on the right side. There is no real option for this council but to negotiate with the contractor.

"I expect that we will need another six months to carry out these negotiations," he added.

Coun Colin Beardwood agreed that the way forward was to talk to SWS about alternatives.

"The incinerator was very largely instrumental in the original contract and I believe that the council took a very brave and bold step in accepting the contract.

"All the members voted for the contract but did not accept the consequence," he said.

"In looking to the future we have got to recognise that this issue of waste is one that is a growing problem.

"All expectations of growth have been exceeded - this waste has got to be dealt with," he added.

Members also pledged to continue their support of the district councils in achieving new recycling targets and press ahead with the proposed refurbishment of current facilities.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr Lord said one thing they might have to consider is taking waste out of the county to dispose of it.