A new recycling plant is set to open in May and could expand the items which are reused.

The state-of-the-art facility will investigate recycling/disposal options for scrap metal, electronic goods and improved methods of composting horticultural and food waste.

Works and Engineering Minister Ashfield DeVent said Government would take a more aggressive approach to public education on waste reduction, recycling and disposal of household waste.

"This public education programme will be targeted to reduce the waste being placed out for collection in an effort to help control the cost of this service."

He said he was greatly concerned about the increase in illegally dumped rubbish. The vast majority of the rubbish was beverage containers said Mr. DeVent who is considering beverage container deposit legislation to curb the problem.

The overhaul of the Tynes Bay Waste Management Treatment Facility will continue this year to improve efficiency.

The 11-year-old plant is halfway through its projected life and burns 73,000 tonnes of waste a year through two streams.

Mr. DeVent said the plant would normally operate at 75 percent capacity. "With the projected three to five percent per annum increases in waste generation set to continue, the requirement for the third stream becomes imperative within the very near future."

The fire detection system will be revamped to include the yard which spectacularly caught fire when temporary storage of bulk waste caught fire on Christmas Day.

ROADS

The cost of the new bus terminal has gone up by half a million dollars while the completion date has been put back. The new Hamilton hub will now cost $2.9 million and be ready in the summer after originally being scheduled for March.

Mr. DeVent said road changes to ease problems at Collectors Hill/South Road in Smith's would be done this year and he appealed for residents to give up the necessary small sections of land to make it possible.

A tender for a feasibility study for replacing the Causeway will be awarded in April with the results expected back by the end of the year. Input from citizens will be sought on the options.

Roads set to be resurfaced this year include South Road from Camp Road to the Paget traffic lights, Pomander Road, Broome Street, Cricket Lane, Middle Road, Smith's by Whitney Institute, Ord Road, Paget by Paget Primary School and Middle Road, Southampton by Southampton Glebe School. Those three schools will get special road surfaces and signs this year along with Port Royal School.

Lights will be installed at the Parsons Road basketball court by the middle of this year. Mr DeVent said he had noticed enthusiasts playing by the light of car beams because they were so engrossed in games as darkness fell.