BOLTON Council is reported to be considering a tough campaign against householders who put prohibited objects — such as yoghurt pots, plastic bags, food trays and general household waste — in their recycling bins.

A document seen by this newspaper raises the possibility that offenders — after they have had warnings — could have their recycling bins taken away. One councillor, Paul Brierley, has used the word “Stalinist” and another, David Wilkinson, thinks it is “a ridiculous idea”.

I agree with them on this, even though I suspect the eventual policy will be less aggressive.

It is difficult to see how bin removal would be much of a threat to those citizens who choose not to acquaint themselves with the finer points of burgundy, green and beige bin management.

They would simply chuck everything in the grey bin with a shrug of the shoulders.

The council believes that the stickers would help residents understand what can be recycled and stresses that bins or boxes would only be removed as a last resort. Maybe so, but a policy of this nature is bound to be seen as somewhat heavy-handed.

I can understand that Bolton wants to improve its recycling performance because it has slipped from second to fifth in the Greater Manchester league table. But the system can only work with co-operation — not threats.