IT was the dawning of a new era. All eyes were on leafy Southampton suburb of Bassett yesterday as battalions of blue-topped bins were trundled out of driveways and garages ready for the city's first ever collection of recyclable waste.

Would the council's highly controversial two-week waste collection scheme be spectacularly slammed by its first users - or would Southampton residents come round to recycling?

While the dustcart crept through "two-bin Bassett," tipping load after load of tins, cartons, newspaper and cardboard into its interior, residents speculated on the pros and cons of the scheme, which sparked a storm of protest.

Accountant Andre Ionescu was adamant that a trial carried out in chilly autumn months would not prepare people for two weeks of rotting waste in July and August.

The 37-year-old, of Abingdon Gardens, said: "You should also have an option to have household waste collected every week. If you've filled it you should be able to have it collected."

In Redhill, off Winchester Road, there were also doubts about the fortnightly collection.

Former city mayor Jack Candy, 82, said: "I agree with it in principle but I wish the normal refuse was done every week. I can't see the end result, as to how they will deal with the recyclable rubbish."

Fellow resident Geoff Radford added: "The council are just paying lip service to recycling. There are rumours that most of this goes straight into landfill. What I'd like to know is where the rubbish is going and what the market is for recyclable cardboard."

Meanwhile, there was a strong "yes" camp for the system, which is said to encourage more recycling.

Annette Ross, 49, of Abingdon Gardens, said: "I think it's a good idea. I was amazed at how much recycling stuff there was. Our normal bin hardly has anything in it.

"You can put tins, cartons, cans all in together. Normally I collect up cardboard and take it to be recycled but it's nice to be able to do it on your own doorstep."

Neighbour Paula Johnston, 42, said: "People round here have been quite happy with it. It saves going to the recycling place. You don't have to sort anything out, it all goes in together."

Southampton City Council hailed the first day of the trial a success, according to a spokesman. About ten tonnes of recyclable waste was collected - though 50 householders had wrongly put glass in their bins, which can't be recycled under the scheme.

The first collection of normal household waste takes place on Monday, October 27.

The fortnightly bin collection, replacing the weekly pick-up, triggered overwhelming public opposition.

Many feared waste would cause serious health problems if left for two weeks and the city would become plagued by flies and rats.

Despite a massive campaign against the move - including a 4,000-signature Daily Echo petition - and an overwhelming vote against it by opposition councillors, the council's ruling Liberal Democrat group pushed the scheme through.