Bulky trash is being redirected to Marsh Folly as Tynes Bay Incinerator aims to deal with its well-publicised backlog.

Wood waste, pallets, furniture and large items of plastic and PVC can only be accepted in moderation at Tynes Bay as the plant is currently operating above capacity, Works Minister Derrick Burgess announced yesterday. It follows an accidental fire which burned for five hours at Tynes Bay on Monday last week after trash overflowed while maintenance work was carried out.

Mr. Burgess said the incinerator was now under full operation but, while staff deal with the backlog, commercial haulers are advised to weigh their loads at Tynes Bay's weighbridge facility. Garbage will then be redirected to Marsh Folly for storage.

"The bulky waste stored at the Marsh Folly site will be brought back to the Tynes Bay Facility for disposal once the backlog of general waste at the Tynes Bay facility has been cleared," said the Minister in a statement. "The Ministry sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused by these temporary measures and thanks customers and the general public for their cooperation during this period."

The Ministry has said the garbage pile reached 30 feet while the plant operated at a reduced level as incineration streams were being repaired.

Firefighters who tackled the blaze described the pile as 50-feet high, and said the garbage probably self-ignited after it overheated in the humidity.

Earlier this month, The Royal Gazette ran a series of Let's Fix It photographs showing roadside dumping of bulky items such as fridges and car batteries. Residents said part of the reason for the dumping could be that people were being turned away from Tynes Bay. The Ministry is running a What Goes Where campaign, in which it is trying to keep people better informed of how to dispose of waste.

Most can be used to generate electricity through incineration at Tynes Bay, but such a method cannot be used for items like scrap metal, which instead is recycled or landfilled.

Further information is available in the blue pages of the Bermuda Telephone Directory.