Medway council is demanding a correction from a national newspaper following a damning article on recycling.

The Daily Telegraph claimed last month that Medway was the worst performing area in the UK for recycled waste which ended up in landfill sites.

Its front page article stated that 10 per cent of waste sorted by households ended up being dumped.

The council was quick to defend its performance and dismissed the figures.

Last night portfolio holder Cllr Phil Filmer (Con) told the regeneration scrutiny committee that recycled waste that was dumped was contaminated, or not recyclable.

"We are doing very well," he said.

"We recycle 34.2 per cent of our rubbish.

"What they were talking about was 10 per cent of what is recycled is contaminated, or is not recyclable, such as polystyrene."