ONE of the county's local authorities has attempted to clear up confusion about which types of plastic can be recycled in the area.

West Oxfordshire District Council has created a new webpage listing most of the sorts can and cannot be put in its blue-lid bins.

It comes after a nationwide BBC survey revealed on Thursday that councils across the UK have a total of 39 different sets of rules for plastic recycling.

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West Oxfordshire revealed that 18 per cent of what is collected in its blue-lidded bins is non-recyclable, with the most common incorrect items being carrier bags and cling film.

The council's cabinet member for environment Steve Good admitted that the system was confusing, but urged residents to learn the rules.

He said: "As well as wanting to recycle as much as possible, there is a cost of placing items in the wrong bin as they have to be removed at the processing plant and this often done manually."

Across Oxfordshire, recycling is managed by five local authorities – West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire, Cherwell, Vale of White Horse and Oxford City.

With South and Vale operating a joint service, that means there are four different sets of rules for which plastics can be recycled.

For example, the city council recycles bubble wrap, but West Oxfordshire does not.

See the new guide at westoxon.gov.uk/plastics

For Oxford's recycling rules, go to oxford.gov.uk/info/20074/recycling_advice/25/what_goes_in_the_blue_recycling_bin

For Cherwell's cheat sheet, see cherwell.gov.uk/info/10/rubbish-and-recycling/42/your-bins/3

If you live in southern Oxfordshire, go to southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/recycling-rubbish-and-waste/recycling/what-can-i-recycle