Its launch, a year ago yesterday, was clouded in controversy following revelations that Bournemouth's new smaller wheelie bins had been secretly tagged.

Amid fears that the passive electronic chips could pave the way for another stealth tax, many residents took the law into their own hands and removed them.

Later the borough's chief executive Pam Donnellan admitted that the council had been wrong to microchip 70,000 new bins without informing residents.

With just days before the much-maligned scheme began, hundreds of householders were still in the dark as to how the scheme would work.

Distribution problems meant that many confused residents had not received their information packs and had no idea what they could put in their big and little bins and when they should put out their refuse for collection.

As Bournemouth council apologised for the delay, the Daily Echo was inundated with complaints and questions from confused householders, unable to get through to the council's recycling helpline.

Despite its controversial launch, the much-maligned recycling scheme was soon making its mark.

In September alone the amount of waste sent to landfill had been cut by almost 2,000 tonnes and the town's recycling rate had more than doubled.

The council hoped the figures would help draw a line under the problems that had plagued the scheme and prove to residents that it was worthwhile.

Civic chiefs disputed the claim that up to 25,000 angry residents had removed microchips from their bins.

Like all others around the country, Bournemouth was under pressure to meet strict targets on reducing the amount of rubbish going into landfill.

Notification in October that it was under its landfill allowance for 2005/2006 was the news civic leaders had been waiting to hear.

A council spokesman said the amount of recycling collection across the borough had soared during the past year.

"Prior to Big Bin Little Bin the average monthly amount of recycling collected at the kerbside was 20.2 per cent; now it's 35.4 per cent.

"The overall average amount of waste recycled in Bournemouth is an impressive 41 per cent."

Cllr Robert Lawton, cabinet portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: "The way the people of Bournemouth have embraced the new recycle scheme is tremendous - well done and thanks to all."

Environmental and recycling manager Emma Sadiwskyj-Frewer said: "We are looking into what action we can take against persistent offenders who ruin the efforts of those who do want to make a difference."

There is no doubt that painful lessons have been learned during the first year of Bournemouth's Big Bin Little Bin scheme.

However, the signs are that its first birthday will be a much more low-key affair than its launch.