Southend Council has defended its waste policy after Basildon said the seaside town should deal with more rubbish.

The suggestion came from John Potter, Labour leader of Basildon Council, in reaction to plans for an incinerator in Courtauld Road, Basildon.

Ann Holland, cabinet councillor for environmental and public protection, said: "Every other option has to be examined before incinerators are looked at. It might be we end up with one somewhere, but we are trying to promote recycling and other forms of waste management."

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