A WASTE mountain to rival the fridge mountain could accumulate under new European rules, MPs are expected to warn.

It is thought that a cross-party committee will warn that industrial and household waste could heap up as a series of deadlines on European legislation is reached within the next two years.

A ban on dumping hazardous and non-hazardous waste in the same landfill sites takes effect in the UK in 2004, and it is feared that unless changes are made the waste industry will not be able to cope.

The industry has said that few operators will want to run hazardous sites, and is calling for the Government to resolve the confusion over what will be classed as hazardous.

The Government has already been criticised for the UK's growing fridge mountain.

Ken Moody, waste manager for North Yorkshire County Council, said it was vital that local authorities made reparations to stop the same happening with waste.

He said: "We are trying to keep abreast of the developments and we need to get as much information as early as possible so we can plan for this.