RECYCLING in Wirral is about to get even more difficult after a facility used to recycle cartons was taken away.

Special banks used for collecting food and drink cartons in Heswall, West Kirby, Bromborough and Greasby – which cannot be thrown in the regular household recycling bags – have been withdrawn.

The cartons – known to many as Tetra Pak – which are often used for products such as milk, juice and smaller drinks, can still be recycled in the borough – but it would mean going to one of the larger centres, which for many are less accessible.

It’s believed the move has come because people are putting wrong materials into the banks, such as paper.

Cllr Allan Brame, who is the environment spokesman for Wirral council’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “There are far too many items which are not easily recycled on Wirral.

“There are still carton banks available at the council’s three household waste recycling centres in Bidston, Clatterbridge and West Kirby, but realistically who is going to drive to one of these and queue for half an hour to throw a juice carton into a skip?”

Cllr Brame said he was told by the council the emptying process for the carton banks is “quite specialised”, meaning even small levels of contamination can lead to the machine getting blocked.

He was told at West Kirby, a different bank was introduced in an attempt to stop contamination or make it easier for the council to empty if it got contaminated, but that did not improve the situation.

The banks are not owned by the council, and the final decision to remove them was made by recycling firm ACE UK.

A spokeswoman said: “ACE UK can confirm that the beverage carton recycling ‘bring banks’ in Heswall, West Kirby, Bromborough and Greasby have been withdrawn.

“We regret having to take this decision but there were ongoing contamination issues at these facilities, which we were unable to overcome.

“A single contaminated ‘bring bank’ of cartons can have a major impact once integrated into further collections as the whole load is then contaminated, making it no longer suitable for recycling.

“We continue to work with the council to provide carton recycling solutions, including possible kerbside collection, and carton recycling facilities provided by ACE UK are still available at the Household Waste Recycling Centres in Bidston, Clatterbridge and West Kirby.”

Wirral Council was also contacted for further comment.