PEOPLE living just 500 metres from a planned waste reception centre have lent their voices in opposition.

Portuguese company HLC has submitted plans to build a pyrolysis and gasification plant that will bake rubbish and reduce it to gas and ash.

The company says the process is an environmentally-friendly form of incineration.

But residents of Isycoed, which is situated just 500m from the proposed site, turned out in force to protest at a meeting organised by Dee Borders Waste Action Group (DBWAG).

Isycoed Village Hall was packed with 95 local residents opposed to the plans. They have not been convinced by the company that the process will not release toxic fumes into the air despite endorsements from the Environment Agency that this form of waste disposal is one of the cleanest.

DBWAG meeting organiser Gwyneth Taylor told the gathering she had seen no proof the technology proposed was safe at such a large scale.

'When it comes to potential health issues and waste disposal I don't want to be part of an experiment,' she said.

Those at the meeting agreed that they should all oppose the application before the February 21 deadline.

Chris Taylor, of Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru (TCC), a group that campaigns on behalf of Welsh communities, said he thought this was an attempt at a quick-fix for Wrexham's refuse problems.

'Wrexham can meet European recycling levels by 2010 without resorting to incineration,' he said. 'Increasing the amount of kerbside collection boxes would be a simple way to do that.'

He added: 'The company says the fumes would be within accepted guidelines but they have no previous experience of running this type of operation.'