(Image: Every Can Counts)
York has been ranked as one of the best cities in the UK for recycling.
City of York Council recorded a household recycling contamination rate of just 4.31 per cent in 2024/25, placing it second in a UK-wide league table of more than 50 councils.
East Lothian topped the table with a rate of 3.95 per cent.
Chris Latham-Warde, programme manager for Every Can Counts, said: "Contamination is a real problem, but it is one we can do something about.
"Clear and easy-to-understand guidance from local authorities can help residents know exactly what belongs in their recycling and how items should be prepared, so they can use their local recycling system correctly."
By comparison, Kirklees reported a contamination rate of 12.1 per cent, while Leeds recorded 26.95 per cent.
The highest rates in the UK were seen in Bradford at 35 per cent and Doncaster at 34.42 per cent.
Every Can Counts, a not-for-profit recycling programme, compiled the data through Freedom of Information requests to 171 UK local authorities in April 2026.
Of the 120 councils that responded, 55 provided usable contamination rates for the 2024/25 financial year.
Contaminated recycling is typically incinerated or sent to landfill, resulting in higher costs for taxpayers.