We all try and do our bit for the environment but what if we are doing more harm than good when it comes to recycling?

The British Science Association has laid out the 10 biggest mistakes we make when recycling and you might be surprised by the results.

The issue is that most people don’t know what is accepted when it comes to recycling and the rules on contamination.

Even if there is one contaminated item in the load of recycling, this then means the whole lot has to go to landfill instead.

For example the grease from your takeaway pizza contaminates its normally recyclable cardboard box.

Also, used kitchen roll, soap dispenser tops, shiny/metallised wrapping paper and coffee cups are top of the list for items that cannot be recycled.

Other common recycling errors include not always emptying and rinsing shampoo and conditioner bottles or food containers and not always removing the plastic insert from tissue boxes.

The top items which Brits across all age groups wrongly thought they could put in the recycle bin at home or at work are:

Soap pump dispenser tops

Used kitchen roll

Shiny/metallised wrapping paper

Coffee cups

Glass that isn’t a bottle or jar e.g. window glass

Plastic bags

Straws

Greasy takeaway pizza boxes

Soft plastic / metallic packaging like pet food pouches

Photo paper

The top items which Brits don’t know they CAN put in their recycle bin are:

Kitchen foil and foil trays which are used but still clean

Empty deodorant aerosols and hairspray with the plastic cap

Empty surface cleaner bottle with the trigger spray

Metal lids

Empty bleach bottles