A four-borough public consultation on controversial waste plans which could see a £1bn incinerator built to south London has started.

The 12-week consultation by Sutton, Kingston, Merton and Croydon councils comes after plans for the centre, which could handle radioactive waste, clinical waste and sludge disposal facilities, were revealed by this newspaper.

Croydon Councillor Jason Perry, cabinet member for planning and conversation said: “We know this subject is of immense interest to residents.

“Everyone who lives and works here is involved because they contribute to the waste which has to be dealt with.

“What we need is a responsible and mature debate across south London which recognises that the four boroughs need to identify the most suitable location for waste processing.

“All of the sites under consideration are already in use for some kind of industrial scale operation.

“Through this public consultation we aim to find where the investment can take place.

“Everyone is being given the opportunity to participate and I very much hope it is something people will welcome.”

Sutton Council has said the nature and location of any potential waste management site has not been decided and any potential incinerator would use “high-performing, low emission, modern, sustainable technologies”.

But the potential for any such incinerator has provoked widespread anger from community groups who believe it will be detrimental to the environment.

Sutton Council’s executive member for planning Councillor Lyn Gleeson said Sutton needed to produce less waste and deal with it “in better, modern ways and this is what the plan aims to do”.

She said: “Landfill space is rapidly running out and waste buried in landfill releases climate-changing gases.

“We want to hear the views of our residents as well as businesses and environmental groups about where we should manage waste.

“The potential sites have not been decided so this is a real chance for people to tell us about where they think the most appropriate sites are.”

The plan lists 28 potential sites across the four boroughs.

The consultation started on July 20 and will run through to October 16.

To get the questionnaire go to your nearest library, log on to sutton.gov.uk/wasteplan or email your comments to southlondonwasteplan@rbk.kingston.gov.uk.

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