Sandwell Council says it is going to start refusing to collect the recycling bins of residents who continuously put the wrong items in them.

It comes after it emerged that around 20% of waste being picked up in blue-lid bins is not suitable, costing the local authority £1 million in additional costs.

The council has now sent out letters to households in the borough reminding residents about which items can and cannot be recycled.

It follows a pilot scheme last November in which 1,500 homes were sent similar letters, resulting in the number of unsuitable items collected dropping from 18% to just 2%.