A family who moved to a small town for its affordable houses, vibrant community and quiet tree-lined streets fears a proposed energy-from-waste facility could end their country dream.

A fifth-generation Merino farmer reckons it is "deeply ironic" that a natural fibre like wool could risk contamination from the rubbish-burning plant proposed for Parkes, in central western NSW.

Two teenagers say they are already concerned enough about climate change without having to worry about plans for a similar operation near their home at Tarago, in the Southern Tablelands.

"Decisions like this can make young people feel like their futures don't matter," one of them wrote to a parliamentary committee given the task of scrutinising the proposed facilities.

The NSW inquiry has received more than 1

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