Too shiny - festive wrapping paper banned from recycling in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton City Council sent out warnings to homes telling them not to put festive paper in recycling bins and instead dump it in household waste.

It is the only local authority in the Black Country and South Staffordshire to impose the ban.

The cash-strapped council sent out 166,000 leaflets to households across the city detailing waste and recycling information which included how to dispose of wrapping paper. The leaflet offers a guide for householders.

And a note warns residents: "Please remember we don't accept plastic bags, wrapping paper or polystyrene in the recycling bin."

Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, Cannock and South Staffordshire councils all encourage residents to put wrapping paper in recycling bins.

Wolverhampton City Council spokesman Gurdip Thandi said: "Residents are advised not to put wrapping paper in recycling bins as it is often covered in shiny or metallic covering that affects the quality of paper produced in the recycling process.

"However, natural paper without such covering and cardboard rolls can be recycled."

Early this year – as part of a £70,000 communications budget – the council launched a smiling cartoon drinks can called 'Stan Can', informing residents to put the correct rubbish in the correct bin.

It emerged that 'binspectors' were leaving on average 300 bins a day in Wolverhampton on the roadside for having the 'wrong' waste inside.

Mother-of-one Samantha Rogers, aged 27, from Oxley, Wolverhampton called the wrapping paper move 'ridiculous'.

She said: "The household waste bin isn't the biggest and over Christmas you accumulate more rubbish so with wrapping paper going into that bin it's going to be full.

"People should be entitled to recycle wrapping paper. It's ridiculous.

"With the bin days all over the place at Christmas it's just asking for problems."

Spokeswoman for Dudley Council, Kate Arnold, said: "Wrapping paper, cardboard rolls and gift cards are collected through the recycling service for all our residents who are on the new service, which is around two-thirds of them.

"Those who are on the old service can place wrapping paper in their black box but they will need to put cardboard in their back sack or take them somewhere for recycling if they prefer.

These remaining residents will all be on the new service by the spring of 2014."

Walsall Council had told its residents cards and wrapping paper can be put in the green recycling bin and advised and directed households to the town's High Street stores which are providing a card recycling service.