PARLIAMENTARY hopeful Mike Hobday has branded the county council’s waste strategy as strongly biased in favour of incineration.

Mr Hobday, the Labour party candidate for Welwyn Hatfield, spoke out after the publication of the council’s Waste Development Framework.

The strategy, which is open to public consultation until December 18, will allow the council to decide how to dispose of Hertfordshire’s waste between 2011 and 2026.

But Mr Hobday said: “It’s clear by their choice of wording, that the council is increasingly sympathetic to waste incineration as the means to deal with household waste in Hertfordshire.

“This is a short-sighted approach, which will not only damage the environment, but will inevitably cost the county council more money if increasing personal recycling rates divert waste that the incinerator needs.

“In particular, an increasing ability to recycle paper and plastic would make incineration unviable.”

Mr Hobday also reaffirmed his belief that the county council has its heart set on building an incinerator in New Barnfield, Hatfield, despite massive local opposition.

He said: “It is truly shocking that, after months of opposition, the Conservative Party at County Hall is still threatening to make Hatfield the dustbin of the county.

“They’ve got the wrong technology, the wrong location and the wrong approach to engaging with local residents.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Like all local authorities, we are having to confront the fact that landfill space is dwindling, disposal costs are soaring, and what we are doing at present is long-term damage to the environment.

“We have to consider all the options open to us to ensure we have long-term, environmentally and economically sound ways to manage our waste for many years to come.”