Halve Waste, which is a program run by the Albury, Wodonga, Towong, Greater Hume and Indigo councils, oversaw the introduction of recycling, organics and general waste bins last year.

A Halve Waste spokesman claimed every piece of recyclable material placed into the yellow-lidded bin was recycled but a portion was non-recyclable “contamination”, which ended up in landfill.

“Regionally, our average contamination rate year to date is 10 per cent,” he said. “Of the 90 per cent recyclable material, 100 per cent of that is recycled.”

Albury resident Karen Retra, co-ordinator of the Ecoportal website, which lists sustainable-living related events, said there would always be items put into the bin incorrectly that would end up in landfill. “We are slowly getting things added as they improve their system for collections,” she said.

“There are more and more things that can be put in the yellow bin.

“I think that is a positive as well, because the easier we make it for people the more likely they will do it.”

The spokesman said the biggest contaminant in the Border was plastic bags and soft plastics.

“In terms of knowing whether a plastic is considered soft or not, we encourage residents to do the scrunch test – if the item is easy to scrunch in your hand and does not hold its shape, then it should go in to the red lidded garbage bin,” he told The Border Mail.

“Plastics that are hard and hold their shape should be placed in the yellow-lidded recycling bin.”

Small amounts of food scraps left on recyclable material did not interfere with the recycling process.

Halve Waste encouraged residents to scrape containers and wash jars before placing them in the yellow-lidded bin.

Since the introduction of the three-bin system last year, Halve Waste claimed there had been an increase in the recycling rates in yellow bins by 7 per cent, based on collections.

Beechworth Urban Landcare and Sustainability Group committee member Helen Robinson said clearer labelling would help address the level of contaminants placed in the yellow bin. "Sometimes it is hard to know with some plastics whether they are recyclable,” she said.

“When in doubt, put it in the red bin if it’s not clearly marked otherwise.

“I think most people are keen to do the right thing if the information is easy to find on the package.”

In Albury, domestic waste charges are set to be cut by $23 to $250, according to the council's draft budget adopted last week.