Fly-tippers who are abusing recycling facilities in Machynlleth could lead to the service being withdrawn, Powys County Council has warned.

The council provides containers for garden waste recycling but according to county councillor Mike Williams mattresses, prams, furniture and black bags containing mixed household waste have been dumped in the green bins as well.

And now Cllr Williams says the further loss of recycling facilities would be a blow to the town, and has urged residents of the town to think before they dump general waste at the site.

“It’s an important facility for Machynlleth which we don’t want to lose,” he said.

“I would strongly urge residents to think twice before dumping here, and to use these important facilities for the purpose that they are intended for.”

Laura Samuel, senior contracts officer for the council’s waste and recycling strategy team, said the council was under pressure to meet strict recycling targets.

“Unfortunately when residents choose to use these containers to dispose of general waste it contaminates the rest of the material within the bank as well as that which is collected from other sites on that same collection round. We are then unable to recycle the material and are left with no option but to send this to landfill. This is not only additional cost to the council but also a loss of recyclable material.

“The council, like all other authorities in Wales, is required to meet strict recycling targets set by the Welsh Government, failure to do so will result in heavy fines to the authority.

“We need residents to use the banks appropriately so that the recyclable garden waste can contribute towards those targets.

“Unfortunately if inappropriate use of these containers continues we will have to consider removing them from the site as we have done in other areas.”