Binspectors on patrol in Wolverhampton with smiling stickers

People who 'contaminate' their black recycling wheelie bins with electrical items, nappies, textiles and food, will find them unemptied for another two weeks with a sticker on them.

They will also put a card through the door and have come up with a cartoon character called 'Stan Can' to reinforce the message. The scheme has been used in neighbouring Walsall and more than 2,300 bins were being left uncollected every fortnight.

The controversial move was today branded a waste of time by an opposition Conservative councillor in Wolverhampton.

The Labour-controlled city council said 12 per cent of rubbish collected in black bins – which are meant for plastic, card, paper, metal and glass – was contaminated over the past year.

An analysis of contaminated waste showed that some residents were placing in their black bin items such as electrical items, nappies, textiles and food waste – all of which can slow down the manufacturing process at the recycling plant in Leicester.

Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet member for city services, Councillor John Reynolds said: "Wolverhampton residents are enthusiastic recyclers with 95 per cent using the service and the council's really grateful for their continued co-operation.

"But to cut down on the relatively small proportion of recycled waste that cannot be processed, we're launching a campaign to ensure residents are well-informed about what waste they can recycle in their black bin. We think humour is far more effective than preaching – which is why the service has created Stan Can. We think he'll be particularly appealing to children – educating future generations on recycling is essential."

But Tory councillor Wendy Thompson said: "I would have thought the council had better things to do such as trying to attract investment to the city. It sends all the wrong messages and makes me question the council's priorities."