COUNCIL chiefs in Hambleton are getting tough on householders who send contaminated waste to compost sites.

They have been conducting spot checks after several loads of green waste containing plastic sacks and other rubbish were nearly dumped.

The local authority team is looking for evidence which identifies which households have been sending the wrong rubbish.

Some 6,000 Hambleton householders are piloting the use of wheelie bins to collect rubbish before the scheme is rolled out across the whole district.

Now in its ninth month, they are asked to separate their waste into two wheeled bins, collected on alternate weeks.

But the scheme's success depends on the right waste going into the right bin. Garden waste placed in the green bin must be loose and not in plastic sacks or bags. Plastic will contaminate the West Tanfield composting site it is taken to, as it will not bio-degrade for many years.

"All bins are checked before they are emptied. If any plastic or rubbish is found it is not emptied and the householder either has to empty the waste out of the bag and leave it until the following collection or take it to a tip site themselves," explained head of environmental health, Eric Kendall.

"But our collectors cannot get to rubbish in the bottom of the bins. It is vital that people use these bins correctly or we will take action to remove them.

"This problem involves only a minority of people but the consequences can mean an entire load of compostable refuse is lost."

Ash, charcoal, fruit and vegetable peelings, or anything that has been in contact with a kitchen, must also not be put into the green bin. And only brown non-shiny cardboard can be placed into it, such as boxes, loo roll centres and egg boxes.