Council recycling rules clarified

The garden waste is checked at the Lower Polmaise plant

A council has been forced to remind residents of the definition of garden waste, after being sent unwanted items including plant pots and hoses.

Stirling Council said only waste such as leaves, grass cuttings and weeds should be dumped in brown bins.

Waste officer David Riggle said: "Items such as plant pots, garden hoses or carpets do not produce compost."

The council warned such items could damage its compost machinery.

Operators at Stirling's recycling centre in Lower Polmaise said they had noticed residents taking the term "garden waste" as an opportunity to get rid of unwanted garden rubbish, which has also included glass bottles and duvets.

Mr Riggle said: "Some people may be confused about the term 'garden waste'.

"If a used plastic plant pot or old garden hose is not discovered before the brown bin is emptied, these items end up at the compost site.

"A plant pot will be chopped into many tiny pieces that are very difficult to remove later. A garden hose or a piece of rope or carpet can cause damage to the shredder or injure a worker."

The only items that should be placed into brown bins, the council stressed, are grass, weeds, leaves, tree trimmings, small branches, hedge trimmings and cardboard.

All compost produced at the Polmaise site is offered to local residents for free.