Refuse snoopers are to start lifting wheelie bin lids when they’re pulled out onto kerbsides.
It follows revelations that some rogue residents are throwing anything - including dirty nappies - into the recycling.
And East Renfrewshire Council has now admitted the wasted waste cost taxpayers £17,000 in just one month alone.
The state of the blue bins meant cardboard and paper could not be used again.
The council said: “Staff will now be carrying out more spot checks on bins.
“If they find items that shouldn’t be in there, it will not be emptied and residents will have to dispose of the contents themselves.”
Blue bins have been found packed with non-recyclable waste including gas canisters, carpets and nappies.
The council revealed that things got so bad in November that it was charged £17,000.
A spokesman said: “It means we cannot recycle any cardboard/paper that’s been contaminated and it costs us money.
“We know that the vast majority of residents recycle responsibly, but it is the minority who aren’t and unfortunately the contamination increases our costs.”
Residents have tried to urge the council to change its bin collection service to tackle the problem.
On Twitter, Debbie Gray said: “We have six green bins and three blue bins.
“The green ones are full perhaps two or at a push three.
“The bins are overflowing by the second week.”
Karolina Agur asked: “Rather than criticising residents who pay huge council tax for increasingly limited services, perhaps taking time to find out why this is happening would help and then think of a solution?”
And another local said: “Maybe you should revert back to weekly collections and open local dumps instead off having to book.
“You can’t get an opening at the tip - you don’t make it easy for getting rid off rubbish.”
