PEOPLE living in Tenbury are being urged to up their game when it comes to recycling.

Failure to make sure that recyclable items have been properly cleaned means that too much of it still has to be sent for incineration.

Malvern Hills District Council is urging people to ensure they put the right thing in the right bin to help reduce the amount of recycling which ends up being lost due to contamination.

Every year, about 10 per cent of the content of Malvern Hills District’s green bins, has to be sent for incineration instead of being turned into new products.

This is because it either contains too many non-recyclable items or recyclables that have been spoiled by liquids, grease or food waste.

The five most common items Malvern Hills residents incorrectly put into their green bins over the last 12 months were clothes and shoes, food waste, household items including a cheese grater, toilet brush and photograph frame, nappies and metals.

People are urged to rinse items and put them loose for recycling and not in plastic bags.

Only put non-black plastic pots, tubs, bottles and trays in the green bin but no other plastic items. Food waste must not be put for recycling.