Campaigners want more recycling

The county council decided to award the firm the �500m contract to generate energy from rubbish on a site which has to be agreed.

Sita has promised to reduce to 10% the amount of household waste going to landfill sites.

Earlier about 30 protesters gathered outside County Hall, Truro. One person staged a five-hour roof-top vigil.

They believe recycling is the best way forward, but the county council says recycling is part of the contract and emissions from modern incinerators are safe.

I am convinced it is the best for Cornwall Councillor Ann Kerridge Tell BBC Cornwall what you think

Sita boss Per-Anders Hjort said the reduction in landfill waste would be achieved through a combination of incineration, recycling and composting.

He said: "We have every intention of making this contract a showcase for the industry."

Roof-top protester Owen Braines, 40, draped a banner from the roof of the council building on Tuesday morning with the words: "No to incinerator, yes to recycling, yes to jobs."

Community recycling worker Mr Braines, from Truro, said: "The incinerator will not bring any jobs to Cornwall which is what the county desperately needs.

"A sustainable recycling scheme would increase jobs and ensure that waste is disposed of in an environmentally sound way."

But many councillors believe a waste to energy plant is the only practicable solution.

Ann Kerridge, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Bodmin St Mary's, said: "I am convinced it is the best for Cornwall.

"It is good environmentally and we must stop landfill as soon as possible."