Recycling such as plastic and paper may be burnt in Gloucestershire’s waste incinerator if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal, a district council leader has said.

Officers at Cotswold District Council said a no deal Brexit could mean recyclable material from the district ends up being incinerated at the Javelin Park facility, the authority’s leader Joe Harris has warned.

According to Mr Harris, the district council has outlined that in a no deal Brexit scenario, there is a chance that the authority will be unable to dispose of recyclable material into mainland Europe, meaning it has to be stored somewhere or disposed of by burning the waste or sending to landfill.

District councils such as the Cotswolds are responsible for waste collection while county councils including Gloucestershire manages waste disposal.

Mr Harris said he is seeking clarity from Gloucestershire County Council about whether he would have to send the recyclable waste to the rubbish burner in the event of a no deal.

He added he cannot make a commitment until he receives assurances from the county council.

Gloucestershire County Council said in a statement Javelin Park “has only ever been sized to deal with Gloucestershire’s waste that can’t be recycled.”

The £633million incinerator, by junction 12 of the M5, has been burning the county’s residual waste since July.

The county council has previously said the incinerator will provide electricity to power the equivalent of 25,000 homes, reduce carbon emissions compared to landfill and save taxpayers £100million.

Mr Harris said he was “shocked” by the advice that recycling could be burnt rather than reused.

Cotswold District Council leader Joe Harris said: “Despite claims by the Jacob-Rees Moggs of the world, issues such as this show how much is at risk with a no-deal Brexit.

“We have all heard that departing without a deal will have an impact on food supplies and medicines, but officers have also advised that it may mean recyclable material from the Cotswolds ends up being incinerated.

“I was shocked to discover this and Cotswold residents would be furious if they discovered their recycling was being burnt rather than reused.

“Aside from being an environmental tragedy, this will also have financial implications for the council and subsequently the services we can provide to our residents.”

Councillor Nigel Moor, cabinet member for environment at the county council, said: “It is entirely a matter for district councils where they dispose of the recyclable waste they collect – but as we’ve said many time, the Javelin Park plant has only ever been sized to deal with Gloucestershire’s waste that can’t be recycled.

“I am shocked Cotswold Liberal Democrats are thinking of disposing of recyclable waste via incineration.

“Under the Conservatives, Cotswold District Council had one of the highest levels of recycling in the country – this feels like Lib Dems are preparing to blame recycling cuts on Brexit, which would be cynical politics no-one in the Cotswolds would believe.”