York is one of two major communities in the area pinpointed today as likely sites for waste incinerators by environmental watchdogs.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) has named York and Northallerton among 70 towns and cities which it says have been earmarked for sites for dozens of new incinerators nationwide.

The group, which is urging the Government to encourage more waste recycling, published its list only weeks before the Government was expected to unveil a new strategy for dealing with the country's growing rubbish mountain.

FoE has predicted "likely future locations" by analysing the volume of waste produced where, and what planning applications for incinerators have already been submitted.

The group wants ministers to set statutory recycling targets for local councils and provide them with new money to set up comprehensive schemes.

Sarah Oppenheimer, waste campaigner with FoE said: "Today we publish the bad news for scores of communities across England.

"The Government has failed to plan for enough recycling of waste. The result is that new incinerators will be needed up and down the country."

Environment Minister Michael Meacher told the Commons earlier this month that there would "continue to be a place" for burning rubbish and acknowledged that reassuring the public was very difficult.

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