Veolia Tasmania is responsible for collecting and recycling more than 50,000 tonnes of materials cast away by residents from North and North-West Tasmania.

Some Launceston suburbs are known to be the worst offenders.

Veolia Tasmania general manager David Beard said up to 20 per cent of the materials collected from kerbside recycling bins would go to landfill.

He said he was disturbed that employees at the Spreyton facility were being exposed to all manner of items on the recycling line.

"It is unacceptable that they have to physically handle dirty nappies, dead pets and syringes," Mr Beard said.

"We have had instances of needle stick injury. Fortunately that hasn't resulted in further issues.

"There is a risk to people's safety, but it is also about what is acceptable for people to do in the workplace. We sort recycling, we don't sort rubbish, and it is not what these staff signed up to do."

Mr Beard said general rubbish was also being placed in recycling bins, and this trend was increasing.

He said people were becoming complacent about recycling, and were filling up the smaller garbage collection bins and then dumbing rubbish in recycling.

"People think that everything is recyclable. It is, but not through the kerbside system," Mr Beard said.

"If you put an engine block through our system it will smash all the equipment. A garden hose is plastic, but it jams everything up.

"It is really important that people put the right things in the bin. Don't put deer heads and carcasses, your boots, tvs and grass in them. We can't process it.

"Our recycled product from Tasmania is in demand in Asia because of its quality, and that is because of the people in the sorting facility."