Paul Owen, 40, had been encouraged to recycle rubbish by his daughters but never got through the gates of the recycling centre in Marsh Road, Rhyl, because he was in his taxi.

Denbighshire County Council rules say commercial vehicles cannot use the recycling centre and even though he argued that he only wanted to get rid of household items and some old batteries they sent him packing.

Mr Owen said stopping him from taking his car into the centre because it had a taxi sign was “bureaucracy gone mad.”

He said: “I want to recycle and am shocked and furious with the attendants and the council.”

His taxi plates can only be removed by a council licensing officer at a cost of £25 and it would cost another £50 to put them back on.

“This is madness. I am being stopped by red tape and being put off recycling my rubbish which is what the council wants people to do.”

A council spokesman conceded that they had not come across this situation before and would be willing to talk to Mr Owen but said the site operators had done nothing wrong.

The spokesman added: “In the past week we have seen a small number of individuals visiting our recycling park at Rhyl in what we would deem to be a commercial vehicle.

“Over recent years, the council has run a high profile media and publicity campaign, informing residents and businesses that only domestic waste can be left at our recycling parks across the county. Commercial waste is not allowed.

“If we think the waste to be disposed of is of a commercial nature, then we will advise individuals that they will not be allowed to unload their vehicles.”

But Mr Owen insisted that he was dumping household waste and was using his car.

Mr Owen, who works for Coastline Taxis, said he was told he could not enter the park in his vehicle. When he suggested he return on foot the attendant threatened to call the police and have him removed from the site.

Mr Owen’s children Rhiannon, eight and Carly, 17, encouraged him to recycle. Rhiannon, who attends Ysgol Dewi Sant, became increasingly interested in recycling after teachers incorporated the topic into lessons.

“My children are environmentally aware, they learn about these things at their school and they are trying to get me to recycle. So I thought I’d give it a try.”

The taxi driver said he is so angry that he is refusing to let the matter drop and has called on the council to re-consider its policy.