GREEN campaigners were out in force in York city centre protesting against waste incineration.

Campaigners joined councillors Andy D'Agorne and Mark Hill outside York's Mansion House last night before a meeting of the full council in the Guildhall.

At the meeting, Coun D'Agorne called on councillors to support a commitment opposing the incineration of any waste in York on health and environmental grounds.

But instead councillors backed calls from Lib Dem councillor Andrew Waller for the authority to "note the risk associated with all forms of waste treatment".

Coun D'Agorne has criticised plans to invest in extra waste treatment facilities, saying it would reduce incentives to recycle.

City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council first put together a private finance initiative (PFI) bid for treatment plants last September.

Local authorities across the country have been considering similar schemes involving "energy from waste" incinerators and mechanical biological treatment to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Costs of landfill are set to soar in coming years.

But Coun Andy D'Agorne said signing long-term contracts to dispose of waste in this way would discourage the council from pursuing increased recycling and encouraging residents to throw away less.