Kirklees Council has seized more than 1,300 recycling bins from households in just five weeks because they contained the wrong types of rubbish.
Since April, "advisers" have checked green bins during collections and placed stickers on those containing incorrect items.
After two warnings, bins are removed for up to six months.
A waste inspector said that, because of this approach, now only 6% of the recycling waste received is being rejected. Before the recent campaign it was 33%.
The scheme has drawn critics, with some claiming taking green bins away means all their recycling will now be destined for landfill.