RESIDENTS have backed recycling plans for York and North Yorkshire - but the row over a proposed incinerator in the city is set to continue.

Council bosses today hailed the results of a public consultation, after it showed most people are behind attempts to maximise recycling.

But the survey also showed opinion was split over plans to build an incinerator or a "mechanical and biological treatment" (MBT) plant. The former option was supported by 43 per cent of respondents, and the latter by 52 per cent.

The York and North Yorkshire Waste Management Partnership, which consists of councils throughout the area, conducted a countywide survey to gauge opinion on a new joint waste strategy.

The survey showed 82 per cent of respondents supported the aim to meet the community's waste needs and "deliver a high quality, sustainable, customer-focused and cost effective waste management service."

Almost three quarters said the target to produce less waste than the national average by 2008 and to be among the best by 2013 was fair.

The partnership aims to recycle up to 50 per cent of household waste by 2010.

County councillor Clare Wood, chair of the waste management partnership, said: "The results show that the area has given support to the aims and objectives of the new joint waste strategy but tells us that residents are more uncertain about the preference for choice of technology for dealing with residual waste."

City of York Councillor Andrew Waller, executive member for environment and sustainability, said: "I am pleased that the high recycling targets have been endorsed in this survey.

"The survey feedback is much less clear about the choice of technology for the treatment of the remaining waste, which was unsurprising."

He said the council would need to further refine the scheme costs, operation and options for output before coming back to the public.

Green councillor Andy D'Agorne was sceptical about the survey, but said he was pleased the MBT plant was more popular.

He said: "The questionnaire was like: do you like motherhood and apple pie? I am certainly looking forward to more consultation."

Richard Lane, spokesman for York Residents Against Incineration, said: "We need to see some options that do not include incineration. We welcome the fact that they are saying 50 per cent (recycling target) but we think York can do better."

Updated: 10:36 Monday, February 13, 2006