Plans to heap nearly five million tonnes of London's rubbish on Sussex could lead to the nightmare scenario of roads jammed with waste lorries, more tips and even the installation of incinerators, a council leader has warned.
Under the new South East Plan, West Sussex could be used as a dumping ground for 2.6 million tonnes over the next 20 years while East Sussex could have to accept 2.2 million tonnes.
Henry Smith, of West Sussex County Council, said: "This unequal way of dealing out waste to other communities is wholly wrong and we're not going to let this one lie. It's going to put extra pressure on our roads with lorries loaded up to the hilt in waste, to be put in landfills and incinerators we otherwise wouldn't need.
"But this is not just an environmental issue it's also a quality of life one, especially for people who are potentially going to have to live near new landfill sites."
Experts believe the total amount of waste produced in the South East is likely to rise to nearly 35 million tonnes by the year 2025.
The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) says this will leave all landfill sites full within a decade. East and West Sussex councils have in the past agreed to take on some of London's rubbish but new legislation would mean they are legally bound to accept their share of the 1.8 million tonnes of waste London produces each year.
Coun Smith said: "There has always been a little transfer of waste between areas but historically it has evened itself out. This is something new, certainly in the realms we are talking about.
"The undemocratic way the Government has set up these decisions, to be made by the regional assembly and London, is completely unacceptable.
"We object to the way local people have had very little say in the matter. If you create the waste you should be in a position to deal with it and clearly London cannot. I find it objectionable that Sussex, not to mention other counties, has to pick up that burden."
West Sussex councillors hope they can bring in new techniques of disposing of waste, such as mechanical and biological treatment, before their major landfill site in Warnham reaches capacity in 2009.
But additional rubbish from London could force them to open new landfills - or even incinerators. Coun Smith said: "We are already finding it increasingly difficult to deal with waste and we're running out of landfill.
"It is environmentally unsound to keep trying to find holes in the ground so to have this waste thrust upon us is very difficult. It puts the prospect of further landfill and incinerators in our hands which obviously the people don't want."
Responses to the South East Plan are being collected by SEERA until June 23 when it will be handed to independent inspectors for review.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article