REFUSAL for a giant £40 million waste incinerator in Kidderminster has been blamed as one of the reasons Wyre Forest is lagging behind in recycling.

Worcestershire County Council's head of waste management Jeff Romanis said the plan for county-wide kerbside collection of recyclable waste, part of a contract with Severn Waste Services which began in 1999, was "integrated in both technical and financial terms" with the burner.

Wyre Forest District Council's overview and scrutiny (community life, health and safety) committee was concerned at under-achievement in recycling, which stands at six per cent against a Government target of 10 per cent for 2002/3.

Members were told in a report the target would be 25 per cent by 2007/8 and that introducing kerbside collections would raise district performance immediately.

They called in Mr Romanis to their meeting on Tuesday night to discuss why kerbside collections had not been started despite the waste contact with SWS being signed nearly two years ago.

Councillor Chris Nicholls said: "What's the point in having a contract if it achieves naff all?

"When is something going to happen? It's very important for future generations that we start achieving these targets."

Mr Romanis said the county was "a long way behind in terms of infrastructure" - a delay that was partly due to the incinerator being kicked out by the county planning committee at a meeting in Kidderminster in April.

An appeal by SWS against the decision will be heard by the Planning Inspectorate next April - and Mr Romanis admitted there was no contingency plan for recycling if it was turned down again, and that such a decision would leave the contract with SWS in "severe trouble".

Councillor Liz Davies claimed the contractor was dragging its feet in order to put pressure on over the incinerator.

The issue will be discussed further at future committee meetings.