Here the Brighton and Hove environment councillor says we should look at incineration as part of an overall waste strategy.

BACK in August, in a lengthy and closely reasoned position statement, the East Sussex branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England came out strongly in favour of both modern incineration (EFW) and of the Newhaven, North Quay site, as the location for an EFW plant to serve an area bounded by Eastbourne, Portslade and Lewes.

To put the safety issue of incineration into perspective, CPRE reckoned there were probably more dioxins released into the air in one Bonfire Night at Lewes than in the 25-year operation of a modern incinerator. A thought-provoking comparison!

Without doubt, the safety of incinerating waste remains a controversial issue, and that is why both councils have decided to set up a Waste Forum, involving community representatives and expert opinion to look at these issues more closely.

The Waste Forum should be the place in which scientific evidence and advice can be heard and evaluated in a calm and reasoned manner.

We have to resist those who want to reduce the debate to the simplicities of "recycling good; incineration bad" Reality is more complicated. All methods of treating waste are hazardous and potentially polluting.

Local councils have to deal with the here and now, and the near future. They have a legal duty to remove and dispose of household waste; and the new strategy and waste local plan, which will go out to the public consultation next month, shows how we will deal with our waste in a much more environmentally-sustainable way than ever before.

The strategy has three main elements. Front end recycling, composting, and reuse of materials. The recovery of energy from waste residues which cannot be recycled. And disposal of what remains to landfill.

I say "recovery of energy" because although it is usually assumed that this will be done by modern incineration, in fact the tenders we are inviting from the waste industry are not prescriptive.

So, if another proven technology is proposed as an alternative to incineration, it will be given serious consideration.

The Draft Waste Local Plan identifies a number of "preferred sites", which it is believed are most likely to secure planning permission.

The brownfield site at Newhaven, North Quay, was not plucked out of the air. Its choice was determined by an assessment process, applying central government guidelines, and done jointly by planning officers from both councils.

Liberal Democrats at East Sussex, who have not opposed incineration as such, have been denying the validity of the Newhaven, North Quay recommendation for almost a year, even going so far as to propose Waterhall instead.

Fortunately Labour and Conservative members of the East Sussex Council saw the folly of the proposal and overturned it, accepting the professional advice of the joint planning team.

Finally, I need to point out that the responsibility for the safety licensing of all strategic waste facilities lies with the Environment Agency.

I believe their early involvement in this debate is highly desirable.