Proposals by Swindon Borough Council to ask residents not to put out plastic waste for recycling, but instead put it into their black bins hit the headlines today.

Yesterday morning's Daily Telegraph featured on its front page a story headlined: "Council to order halt on plastic recycling".

Bylined Katie Morley, the consumer affairs editor, the story said the council "admits [plastic recycling may be a waste of time.

"Swindon council intends to incinerate plastic along with with other black-bag rubbish, amid fears that waste sent for recycling is being dumped overseas."

The Advertiser understands that other national media outlets, newspapers and broadcast media, were inundating communications staff at Euclid Street picking up on the Telegraph story.

As the Advertiser reported six weeks ago, the council has been consulting residents on proposals to send plastic waste, along with other household waste to its solid recovered fuel plant.

It is not incinerated there, but turned into large pallets of industrial fuel used by cement making factories.

Other proposals include allowing refuse collectors to turn down black wheelie bins if they are too full of material which could be recycled including tin and aluminium cans or garden waste.

The consultation ended yesterday and a decision will be made by councillors later in the year.