Metro Vancouver board members elected to keep incineration as a option to manage its solid waste, after they held a confusing and protracted debate on the matter on Friday morning.

"It's very disappointing," said Patricia Ross, chairwoman of the Fraser Valley Regional District, whose members unanimously objected to the construction of a waste-to-energy garbage incinerator in the Lower Mainland.

"They've decided to keep incineration in the plan. It means the fight will go on."

The Metro board debated three options that were recommended by its waste management committee last month.

They included incineration in the region, incineration out of the region, likely on Vancouver Island's west coast, or no incineration at all.

Ross said the FVRD's position is clearly against any incineration in the region because of the unknown effects it could have on air quality. The FVRD board will take its fight to the next level of government, to the Ministry of Environment, she said.

"We already have a letter prepared for Environment Minister [Barry] Penner. We were just waiting to see the outcome," Ross said Friday afternoon from the Metro offices.

Metro chambers were full to overflowing as observers waited to see if the board would approve the controversial trash incinerator, a proposal vehemently opposed by the FVRD, business and environmental groups.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson moved to take out any reference to burning garbage, but his motion was defeated.

After lengthy debate, Metro first defeated then supported the motion to keep the options of incineration both in and out of the region. The matter was eventually settled at about 2:30 p.m., when Surrey councillors shifted their vote to support burning. But the long debate shows some board members heard the concerns about air quality, said Ross. She encouraged valley residents to write to Penner, local MLAs, and even the premier about their concerns.

"Write, phone or e-mail. It will take just five minutes of your time to avoid breathing in pollutants for the rest of your life."