Councillors are to be asked to look again at building a giant incinerator as a long-term solution to Bradford's waste mountain.

And everyone is being asked to give their views on how to get rid of the increasing volume of rubbish they produce.

The amount of waste the district produces is expected to double in the next 20 years, prompting the Council to completely review its waste policy.

It is now preparing to ask large waste disposal companies to tender for ways to tackle the ever-increasing volumes of rubbish.

But the head of the Council's environmental services, Richard Wixey, wants to hear ideas from the people of the district on how to reduce the huge amount of waste sent to landfill.

A series of hi-tech options are under consideration, including burning the waste and using the resultant fumes to produce electricity and hot water for homes.

Incineration has previously been ruled out by the Council's executive but environmental bosses are to ask councillors to review that decision as a way to reduce the massive amount of waste sent to landfill sites each year. The dramatic measures are being considered as Bradford is one of the fastest growing areas in the country, with experts predicting that by 2020 there could be as many as 26,000 extra households in the district.

To compound the problem, the Council needs to slash the amount of waste it sends to landfill from 230,000 tonnes to 75,000 tonnes by 2020, or else face fines of £150 for every extra tonne over the limit.

Building methods to deal with the waste could mean increased council taxes but it is hoped any rise could be offset by profit made from commercial use of by-products.

By 2020 it is also hoped that up to 40 per cent of waste can be recycled through a variety of means. But the following ideas are being considered for non-recyclable waste:

  • burning rubbish and using the energy released to produce electricity, gas or heat water.
  • treating the waste in a giant pressure cooker which, in a process known as "autoclaving" will produce materials such as packaging or fuel.
  • mechanically and biologically treating waste so a residue forms as it decomposes which can be used as a fuel.
Environmental bosses are to submit options to the Council's executive on November 14 and they want Council tax payers to weigh in with their views.

Richard Wixey, director of environmental services at the Council, said: "We are facing a really significant issue in terms of diverting waste away from landfill.

"More and more people are moving into the district and are using more and more packaging - meaning more rubbish.

"The main issues we will be looking at will be the cost to the tax payer, health and safety aspects, the pollution it may cause and, most importantly, that it will actually work.

"At the moment rubbish thrown into landfill just rots, producing methane, carbon monoxide and other greenhouses gases. If we were to burn them we would be able to capture these gases and put them to use rather than releasing them into the atmosphere.

"Another option would be for us to part-own any business which successfully tenders for the contract. Any companies which can come up with ways to make the waste they take from us make money would be attractive as there is a chance we could share in the profits.

"We are very keen to hear what people in Bradford have to say and urge them to get in touch with any areas of concern they might have."

Whatever is decided, the process will be long and costly. Figures as high as £400 million have been quoted and work would not begin on the new plant until 2010 at the earliest.

The issues Bradford are facing are being felt across the country. Mr Wixey said it was not out of the question that Bradford could join forces with other local authorities to tackle their waste issues jointly.

Anna Watson, waste campaigner with environmental group Friends of the Earth, said incineration was not the ideal method to deal with biodegradable waste.

She said: "Greenhouse gas emissions from incinerator plants are still a big problem. Often councils are tied into long-term contracts.

"We would like to see the Council look at methods such as biological treatments."

Send your views to Richard Wixey, Environment and Neighbourhoods, Jacobs Well, Nelson Street, Bradford, BD1 5RW or e-mail richard.wixey @bradford.gov.uk.