IT HAS proved to be one of the most divisive issues in the borough for many years.

Yet the signs are that Swindon's fortnightly rubbish collections are slowly overcoming early teething problems.

Councillors say that the scheme has been an overwhelming success considering its size and ambition.

Many local people have responded enthusiastically, although some remain unconvinced.

Wheelie bins were first introduced on November 5, and it was certainly a day to remember.

Immediately there were complaints from residents who thought the wheelie bins were too large and that fortnightly collections were too few.

There were petitions to end the scheme and councillors clashed at the full council meeting.

Now, more than three months on, the architects of the scheme, Steve Harcourt and Coun David Wren, say the implementation was a success.

Coun Wren, cabinet member for local environment, said: "This has been one of the biggest service changes Swindon has ever seen.

"It has affected 85,000 homes, which is a massive change."

Steve, director of environment and health at Swindon Council, said: "We have been very pleased with the way in which Swindon residents have, on the whole, responded to the scheme.

"Most people have adapted well to the new service.

"We are collecting an enormous amount of recycling and most people are coping fine with one wheelie bin.

"We would admit that in the beginning some properties did get missed and we apologise for that.

"But we never dipped below a reliability rate of 99.75 per cent."

There are 880,000 separate collections a month across Swindon.

In January 1,400 tonnes of rubbish, the equivalent of 140 refuse trucks, was recycled instead of being sent to landfill.

Coun Wren said: "I think the climate change debate has galvanised people into action.

"We were surprised by how readily people took to the recycling right from the beginning."

There have been calls, notably from Karen Leakey of the Broadgreen Community Council, to have more fines for flytippers.

Karen said: "A couple of high-profile prosecutions would hopefully deter people from dumping their rubbish where it disrupts others."

Coun Wren, however, does not feel that fining people is the answer.

He said: "There were some people who wanted fines straight away but we made a conscious effort to try to educate and inform.

"I think we have shown a very measured approach."

Since the wheelie bins were introduced an extra seven waste wardens have been added to the core team of six.

So far they have carried out 350 advice visits and a further 200 enforcement visits.

Plans for the future include extending the scheme to flats and residential homes.