Nappies are being blamed for contaminating more than 650 tonnes of recycling in Waltham Forest in the past six months.

Figures released today (Tuesday, November 22) by the North London Waste Authority (NLWA), revealed 1,600 tonnes of recycling has been thrown away in the north of the capital since June.

Among the leading causes of contamination were disposable nappies, which cannot currently be recycled in the area.

Waste which would have been used to create recycled materials instead has to be sent to landfill.

Waltham Forest deputy council leader and NLWA chair Cllr Clyde Loakes, is calling for nappy manufacturers to do more to prevent contamination in a letter sent to major brands today.

Cllr Loakes said: “Contamination of household recycling is a real problem, and used nappies are one of the worst culprits.

“If the wrong things end up in the recycling then whole lorry loads of material that could have been sold and turned into new products will be thrown away instead, all of which costs taxpayers money and is bad for the environment.

“I’m calling on nappy producers to work with us to help deal with this problem.

“If the information on packaging can be made clearer, then people will be less confused about what can be recycled and what cannot.”

NLWA is responsible for helping seven London boroughs dispose of more than 845,000 tonnes of rubbish collected from around 1.9 million residents each year.