TORFAEN council is holding a special meeting to decide controversial plans for a waste treatment plant after hundreds of people objected.

Waste management company Shanks wants to build a plant for the treatment and recycling of locally-produced household waste on its New Inn site, where Rechem treated toxic waste for more than 20 years.

But operations ceased in 2002 and since then the plant's incinerator and chimney have been dismantled.

Now Shanks plans to build a mechanical biological treatment plant to treat 120,000 tonnes of domestic waste a year from Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and surrounding areas.

But hundreds of residents are opposing the plans.

A Torfaen council spokesman said the authority has received an objection letter with 500 signatures, 32 separate individual letters of objection, and a 40-signature petition against the plans.

Because of the number of objectors and the sensitive nature of the plans, the council has bypassed the planning committee.

The application will instead be decided upon by a special full council meeting on February 5, where concerned residents will be invited to put their views across.

The New Inn Action Group is calling for a public meeting to be held before the decision so all parties can express their views.

Campaigner Barry Reardon said: "We all recognise the need for recycling facilities...however, residents should not be victimised into suffering the adverse consequences of establishing this facility in their midst."

He added: "It is unacceptable to repeat the mistakes of 30 years ago by once again locating a waste disposal facility in the middle of a residential area."

Site conversion will cost 'tens of millions of pounds' - Shanks It is not known how much the new plant will cost, but Shanks says work to convert the site will cost tens of millions of pounds.

A spokesman said there will be no incineration at the site, and the plant will help Torfaen meet landfill reduction targets beyond 2010.

The process involves drying the waste and sanitising it so the material can be separated for recycling.

Shanks has built and now operates similar facilities in East London and Dumfries.