The protesters, from anti-incineration groups across the country, climbed a crane before chaining themselves to machinery and staging a protest on the roof of one building.

They claim the incinerator at Basingstoke will emit large quantities of carcinogenic dioxin chemicals, which could get into the food chain.

The protest is taking place on global anti-incineration day - with activists staging demonstrations in 50 countries.

People from across the country have come here to say enough is enough

Mark Strutt

Activists taking part in the occupation are from incinerator action groups in Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire, East Sussex, Essex, Kent, London, Surrey, Wales and Yorkshire.

Sheffield Against Incineration campaigner Andy Booth said: "Incineration is simply not an option in the modern world and the global feeling against them is growing all the time, as today proves."

Greenpeace incineration campaigner Mark Strutt said: "People from across the country have come here to say enough is enough.

"We don't want more incineration to poison our food with cancer-causing chemicals."

The government says it is keen to boost council recycling, to try to ease the pressure on landfill dumps, which are mostly used to take household waste.

But there is a shortage of space and some new incinerators are needed to meet the immediate demand.

Greenpeace claims research shows that by 2010 Britain could have 43 new incinerators in addition to the 15 currently in operation.