Liberal Democrats have pledged there will be no waste incinerator – if they take power on June 4.

The issue of how the county will divert more rubbish from landfill sites has dominated debate at Leicestershire County Council for two years, and is a key election battleground.

The Government has said councils must bury less waste, or face fines that could run to millions of pounds.

In 2007, the Conservative administration at County Hall said an incinerator – energy from waste facility – was its preferred option.

Lib Dems said incineration should be avoided at all costs, and they would prefer a similar system to the ball mill in Beaumont Leys, Leicester. Its MBT system uses magnets and other means to sort household waste.

Labour said incineration would be a last resort and they would look at ways to increase household recycling to try to avoid it.

Lib Dem spokesman for waste, councillor Bill Boulter, said: "Mass-scale incineration destroys resources that can be reused and recycled. Our solution is to establish smaller-scale MBT plants across the county to collect and sort waste, extracting precious resources and producing a much-reduced material that can be disposed using a much smaller incinerator or exported as a fuel for power generation."

More than 30 companies are bidding for a waste disposal contract to divert about half of Leicestershire's rubbish from landfill sites from 2015. A preferred bidder will be chosen in April 2010, with a planning application for a site and the technology in April 2011. The site would open in 2015.

Labour's spokesman for waste, councillor Denis Bown, said: "Our policy is to look to increase recycling before considering anything like that.

"This process towards an incinerator has already started, but we would look to stall that."

Two plots are being offered as potential sites for an incinerator and are open for tours by would-be operators.

Businesses can request to be shown around county council land in Bardon and Whetstone.

The Conservative group's waste spokesman, councillor Nicholas Rushton, said: "One of the most controversial and important decisions that will need to be made over the next four years will be the need to determine long-term waste strategies.

"As this issue is so monumental, Conservatives have adopted a neutral stance.

"We commissioned several expert reports and have engaged an independent review panel to explore possible strategies to recommend a preferred option.

"This option was for an energy-from-waste solution.

"A full range of technologies and waste-treatment solutions will be explored, as will a range of potential locations.

"This will be open to full consultation. No preferred option will be imposed on people."

For more information on the county council and European elections visit www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/elections2009.