A WASTE-burning incinerator will not be built in Blackburn and Darwen, it has been revealed.

Instead a plant that could treat the waste to turn it into soil has been unveiled as the solution to the borough's dilemma over what to with its household rubbish.

After putting the multimillion pound contract up for tender, council bosses have narrowed the search down to three bids - all of which would involve so-called mechanical biological treatment (MBT) rather than incineration.

No final site has been decided, but a list of possible locations, including Whitebirk and Roman Road in Blackburn, was released last year.

MBT involves the waste being broken down and shredded, with any recyclables separated from the rest. It is then treated in an enclosed environment to reduce its volume, with all the biodegradable parts broken down, resulting in a low-quality soil substance.

Brian Jackson, of East Lancashire Friends of the Earth, said: "Not burning is something we thoroughly approve of."

But conservationists also warn MBT should not be used as a replacement for recycling, and point out that the low-quality soil it produces can also end up in landfill.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has searching for a way to dispose of its waste since 2007, when it opted out of the £2billion contract used elsewhere in Lancashire, saying it was too expensive.

With EU landfill taxes rising, local authorities have to come up with a solution to avoid burying more household rubbish.

An incinerator had seemed the most likely outcome when it was mentioned in the county's latest strategy outlining the future of waste disposal.

But it is understood the amount of waste produced by the borough was not high enough to make an incinerator cost-effective, unless the council had offered to take waste from neighbouring areas.

Coun Dave Harling, executive member for regeneration, said: "The solution will primarily be mechanical biological treatment of the borough's waste. We went out to the market to see what they could offer us and we will continue with the competition dialogue and negotiation until we get the best option for the borough."