Gas cylinders, tree stumps and even an engine block are among the rubbish found in wheelie bins that have blocked the island's incinerator operated by SITA.

The company's operations manager Jon Garrad said: 'There have been a number of occasions where we have had to temporarily shut down our normal operation and remove items such as these. You would be surprised by some of the things we find coming into the facility. It never ceases to amaze us. You name it, we’ve seen it.'

SITA has joined forces with Zero Waste Mann to launch a new recycling campaign. Muriel Garland of Zero Waste Mann said: 'This is an important issue. Many items which are being placed in wheelie bins can easily be recycled, with very little effort. We hope that this initiative will serve as a strong reminder that we can all help to protect our environment by following a few very simple guidelines.'

One thousand leaflets have been produced to remind people about what waste can be recycled and what to avoid leaving in wheelie bins. It highlights how newspapers, magazines, card, bottles, tins, cans, aerosols, clothes, shoes and textiles can all be recycled.

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