The exact locations of where the estimated 5.1 million tonnes will go have been revealed – and it seems Peterborough and Whittlesey will have to shoulder the burden.

Initially it was expected that the time period for the dumping would be from 2010 to 2021, but now this has been extended to 2026 following public consultation.

So far four sites have been earmarked for mineral extraction and 10 for household and compost waste.

An old brick pit in Whittlesey will bear the brunt of the rubbish, with a landfill site being created near the Hanson Brickworks to deal with incinerated ash, or compost-like material, from burned down rubbish.
Whittlesey mayor, Cllr Pam Potts, said she was unaware about the Government's plans for the town, but would be investigating straight away.

The plan was first revealed when the Government instructed the East of England Regional Assembly to help out because London is reducing its reliance on landfill space in Marston Vale in Bedfordshire, and needs to look for other sites.

Cllr John Reynolds, the East of England Regional Assembly's chairman, believes the county is being used as a dumping ground.

He said: "We've made it quite clear, London should process its own waste and that any waste that does come to the region should be totally inert.

"London should be making more robust plans to reduce the volume of waste coming to the East of England, especially Cambridgeshire.

"Our recycling rates are the highest in the country and we are seeking to stretch that further. It's what London should have been doing 10 years ago."

The Government has instigated the move and the final amount Cambridgeshire will have to take has not been finalised, but officials say the indications are worse than they had imagined.

Head of strategic planning at Cambridgeshire County Council Mark Vigor said: "We got hit harder than we expected. Cambridgeshire is one of the furthest counties from London and it's taking 21 per cent of the total."

Spokesman for Peterborough's branch of Friends of the Earth Richard Olive said: "It's disgusting. London should be recycling its own waste.

Everything we put in the ground is a waste of valuable material that should be reused."

The latest proposals will be considered by Peterborough City Council's cabinet on March 31.

The Government's inspector's report is expected to be published in October 2010, leading to the plan's adoption in December 2010.

FACTFILE:
SITES identified for mineral extraction in the Peterborough area also include:
Maxey Quarry, Maxey - Extensions to south and east for sand and gravel.
Pode Hole Quarry, Thorney - Extensions to west and south for sand and gravel.
King's Delph, Whittlesey - Sand and gravel and brick clay.
Middle West Farm, Thorney - Sand and gravel to provide materials for construction of the new A1073 road.

Sites for waste in Peterborough:
Dogsthorpe, Peterborough - Extension of existing facilities for materials recycling, the householders' recycling centre (HRC), specialist technologies, inert waste recycling, in-vessel composting and energy-from-waste (combustion of methane)
Storeys Bar Road, Peterborough - Materials recycling facility, energy-from-waste, specialist tehcnologies, and in-vessel composting.
West of Peterborough - Potential sites are being researched.
Hampton, Peterborough - Potential sites for materials recycling, householders' waste recycling, specialist technologies, and in-vessel composting.
Thornhaugh 1 Quarry - Stable non-reactive waste in landfill cells.
Thornhaugh 2 Quarry - Inert landfill and inert waste recycling.