A RECYCLING can bank in Dunster has been withdrawn from service after people used it as a rubbish bin, ruining the recycling efforts of green-minded residents.
The bank at Dunster Steep car park was monitored by West Somerset District Council for the last six months and found to have been misused on a regular basis.
In a majority of cases over the six month period, the contents of the can bank had to be taken to a landfill site as they were contaminated with rubbish and useless for recycling.
District council spokesman Norman Staples said: "It is unfortunate that despite clearly worded signs requesting that the public deposit cans only, a minority of people using the facility incorrectly has resulted in it becoming unavailable for recycling.
"It is vital that everyone appreciated the importance of keeping various recyclable materials separate in order for recycling to be worthwhile."
The nearest recycling facility for Dunster residents is now in the car park of the Tesco supermarket, in Minehead.