Keep Bermuda Beautiful is appealing for volunteers to help in a 'Spring clean' of the Island this weekend.

The KBB '100 Sites Clean-Up' aims to free the natural beauty of Bermuda from the creep of garbage on roadsides and shorelines. "When you litter a spot that's pristine and beautiful, you don't just mess it up for you, you mess it up for future generations," says KBB executive director Richie Lathan.

"The scale of it baffles me because Bermuda is a very pretty place, and so to have people throw things around and not make that connection - it does shock and sadden me.

"However, I also find it rewarding there are so many people out there willing to make a difference."

KBB is expecting more than 200 volunteers to take part in this weekend's '100 Sites Clean-Up'. They range from all ages and backgrounds, from students doing community service to families and even businesses.

"We've gotten a good response so far," says Mr. Lathan. "We came up the idea for the '100 Sites Clean-Up' in the last couple of months - it used to be called the 'Island-Wide Clean Up' but we are hoping to get at least 100 sites. You only have to move a bush aside at the roadside to see how bad we are abusing our environment."

Mr. Lathan says: "There is a change in consciousness in that people are slowly getting the message and becoming more aware, but changing people's behaviour is the hard thing. We want to change that mindless, careless habit of throwing something down, such as a bottle into the bushes."

Apart from trash thrown into the roadsides however, there is the problem of larger illegal sites, where unwanted household goods get dumped - usually down country lanes. Mr. Lathan describes them as "out of the way places, with minimal amounts of traffic but readily accessible to vehicles".

Among the worst cases are Lodge Point Lane in Dockyard; the old tennis courts at Lagoon Park; the Riviera Estate at the Railway Trail, Southampton, and Vesey Street in Devonshire.

Just two weeks ago, a team of KBB volunteers removed 91 vehicle batteries - the equivalent of 1.5 tonnes, from a trash site off North Shore Road in Devonshire. Batteries can leak into the ground, causing an environmental hazard, and at the other extreme, KBB has also discovered dumped animal carcasses on occasion. Televisions, air conditioning units and other electrical goods are also common.

The reaction from members of the public when they first see these sites ranges from shock to disbelief, according to Mr. Lathan. "Some people can't believe what they find and say it's incredible that there's so much rubbish," says Mr. Lathan.

"We are reviewing the prosecution process for littering and hope to start a dialogue with Government to crack down on fly-tipping and illegal dumping."

He adds: "We would also like to get into a dialogue with the people who are doing this. If they are uncomfortable talking to Government, then talk to us and we will see what we can do to help."

After the '100 Sites Clean-Up' KBB will monitor each site every couple of months to keep an eye on it. But Mr. Lathan says that once members of the community make an effort to clear away unwanted trash, they then take 'ownership' of that site and continue to monitor it themselves.

"It's hard work but there is also instant gratification in cleaning up these sites," he says. "People from the local community who walk past these sites each day are able to take ownership of them. After a clean-up they can look over an area and say 'We did that'. "It's a great way to connect with a piece of the Rock. It is all about the community taking ownership."

To take part in the '100 Sites Clean-Up', contact KBB at: 295 5142 or email: kbb@northrock.bm.

Garbage-busters will be out in force this weekend for the '100 Sites Clean-Up'.

The blitz on trash takes place today, Saturday and Sunday, with teams ranging from families of four to six people to larger groups headed by a team leader.

Throughout the weekend, KBB staff will be on hand to respond to requests for assistance from the charity's headquarters in Hamilton.

Two volunteers will also 'float' on scooters, delivering bags and other equipment to various sites.

And in scenes akin to a military operation, Works and Engineering trucks will be on stand-by, ready to transport the collected garbage to Tynes Bay and other appropriate locations.

KBB executive director Richie Lathan says: "If people come across a site they feel they can't handle, please give us a call and we'll send out more volunteers."

Those taking part in the clean-up are advised to use tongs, gloves — such as latex, and to wash their hands immediately afterwards with a powerful handwash.

Disinfectant and hand sanitisers are also recommended.

Anyone who wants to take part in the 'Spring clean' of the Island should contact KBB at 295- 5142 or email: kbb[AT] northrock.bm.

The organisation also wants to hear from you if you know of a trash site which is not yet on the list below.

The minimum requirements for a site clean-up are: two volunteers; more than an hour on-site; separation of recyclables; and to notify KBB of the number of blue bags and general bags of trash collected. The office also needs to be informed of the pick-up location.

The following are the target sites identified so far in the KBB '100 Sites Clean-Up':

Southampton Industrial Park

Palmetto Road (opposite dump)

Beacon Hill

Tee Street

Barkers Hill (north)

Barkers Hill (south access road)

Ocean View Golf Course

Watlington Road East

Midland Heights

Dutton Avenue

St. David's Battery Hill

Vesey Street (alternative rain day is Sunday)

Parsons Lane west

Parsons Lane east

Lodge Point Lane

Lagoon Park tennis courts

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse

St. Mary's Road

Mullet Bay, St George's

Devon Springs Road

North Shore Road (stone hut)

North Shore Road (hole)

Devonshire Pre-School (hill)

Frog Lane (opposite Police field)

Burchall Cove (next to MarketPlace)

Shark Hole (hill to Holy Trinity Church)

Blue Hole Hill (car park)

Harrington Park

Old Military Road

Riddell's Bay (public dock)

Riddell's Bay (bus stop at Foot of the Lane)

Evan's Bay Road

Cable Hill/Middle Road (junction with Vesey Street)

Shelly Bay (opposite Bethel AME Church)

Railway Trail west (Somerset Bridge to Rockaway)

North Shore Road (opposite water treatment plant)

North Shore Road (between C Mart and Berkeley Road)

Lighthouse Hill Road

Jews Bay (public dock)

Prospect/Cedar Park north

Prospect/Cedar Park south

Tennis Stadium