An environmental campaign group staged a protest at a waste incinerator during the build up to the Medway Climate Camp protests.

Members of the Stop Incineration Now Network laid a wreath in front of Allington incinerator, near Maidstone, on Saturday.

The group believes it is a false economy to burn biodegradable waste because of the energy it uses.

Stuart Jeffery, from the Maidstone Green Party, who was also at the wreath laying ceremony, said: "While the direct emissions from Allington are likely to be lower than those from older incinerators, dangerous chemicals are still produced by incineration and they still need disposal.

"Fly ash and grate ash from incineration is a major concern to health and although it is generally sent to landfill, some will still find its way into the air.

The incinerator opened in 2006 and is still going through a testing stage.

A spokesman for Kent Enviropower Ltd , which runs the plant, said: "We believe that the Energy from Waste facility in Allington is key to reducing Kent’s reliance on landfill.

"The facility uses a clean and safe technology – tried and tested throughout Europe and the rest of the world – to process black bag rubbish which would otherwise be sent to landfill."