BOURNEMOUTH'S cyclists may soon be pedalling along plastic pathways.

Councillors and environmentalists heard that the council's waste contractor can turn plastic bottles into road surfaces.

And when the contractor's commercial director Peter Mills told members of the sustainable environment overview panel that he would like to make cycle lanes from recycled bottles, Cllr Robert Lawton took him at his word.

The council's environment and transport chief told the meeting that the council was planning a new cycle lane in Throop.

"A recycled cycle track would really be something," said Cllr Lawton, who told Mr Mills that the council would be interested in looking at options for a plastic pathway.

Boscombe West councillor Lisa Northover raised concerns that Bournemouth could be railroaded into an incineration programme if Dorset county council decides to burn its rubbish.

But senior council officer Roger Ball told the meeting the county authority could not impose waste incineration on Bournemouth.

Pressed by Cllr Roger West, Mr Ball added that the council would stick to its own local plan which does not include incineration.

Canford-based New Earth Solutions became Bournemouth council's waste contractor over a year ago.

Its commercial director was keen to reassure councillors that the town's rubbish was in safe hands.

"We present ourselves as the fourth utility," said Mr Mills, whose company has a recycling "portfolio" of over a million tonnes of waste.

The company's advanced site in Poole uses the latest recycling technologies.

Powerful magnets are used to sort discarded metals to ensure that ferrous material is dealt with safely.

"Its amazing how much cutlery the people of Bournemouth throw away," said Mr Mills.

An advanced optical recognition system is used to sort different types of discarded plastics.

Some of the waste plastic can be turned into aggregate for road surfaces, Mr Mills told the meeting.