Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward yesterday called on the Works and Engineering Minister to disclose his Ministry's waste reduction plan for Bermuda.

"The Minister of Works and Engineering placed `waste reduction' at the top of its list of priorities in its waste management strategy,'' Mr. Hayward said.

"What specific plan or plans does the Ministry have for implementing waste reduction in Bermuda?'' Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira said his Ministry will be publishing an annexe to the Comprehensive Waste Plan for Bermuda early in the New Year.

He said his Ministry was concentrating on "education and selectively applied policies'' to restrict packaging and products to bring about waste reduction.

Dr. Terceira said school programmes were in place.

And he said the new recycling programme is expected to have a significant educational impact.

"By recycling people become more aware about garbage, and hopefully go the next step and start reducing their waste,'' Dr. Terceira added.

He said the selectively applied policies included other programmes such as the elimination of tipping fees.

Mr. Hayward also asked what were the Ministry's expectations of the policies it was introducing.

Dr. Terceira said this had not yet been projected, but the Ministry was looking at what Bermuda should do about waste reduction.

Mr. Hayward also questioned the purposes of official trips made to Denmark or other European countries this year by Works and Engineering Permanent Secretary Mr. Stanley Oliver, chief engineer Mr. David Arden, and resident engineer for the Tynes Bay incinerator Mr. Stephen Hunt.

Dr. Terceira said no trips to Denmark had been made by any of the above officers during the past year.

He said Mr. Oliver also had not been to Europe on official business.

Mr. Arden and Mr. Hunt visited Von Roll offices in Zurich, Switzerland, to discuss the planning, design, and procurement of the mechanical and electrical plant and its integration into the civil engineering works, Dr. Terceira said.

Mr. Arden visited Von Roll three times and the UK once this year, he said. Mr.

Hunt attended two of the meetings at Von Roll.

Dr. Terceira also noted that Von Roll representatives had visited Bermuda eight times in the past year.

Responding to supplementary questions from Mr. Hayward, Dr. Terceira said he did not know the cost of the trips.

He is expected to provide this information in writing next week.

Earlier on Friday, Dr. Terceira moved to allay fears that the upcoming incinerator may be a health hazard.

His comments came on the heels of The Royal Gazette report revealing the new US administration was planning to shut down an incinerator in Ohio operated by the same Swiss company which will supply Bermuda's proposed incinerator.

US vice-president-elect Mr. Al Gore wanted burning halted at the Ohio plant, which burns toxic chemical waste, until Congress checked its safety and found out how it got approval.

Mr. Hayward said earlier this week that a number of hazardous chemicals are likely to be burned in the Tynes Bay plant which is under construction.

He said chemicals headed for Bermuda's incinerator included pesticides, drain cleaners, furniture oils and paint.

"Because of all these things that people put into their household waste, it may mean that our incinerator will be doubling up as a hazardous waste incinerator,'' Mr. Hayward said.

But Dr. Terceira said on Friday the Tyne's Bay incinerator should not be compared to the Ohio incinerator.

"The plant referred to has been constructed to burn toxic chemical waste,'' he said.

"I wish to make it clear that a hazardous waste incinerator is not to be compared with the waste to energy facility provided by Von Roll for Tynes Bay.

The Bermuda plant will burn household garbage.'' Dr. Terceira also said there were many plants which burned household waste, similar to Bermuda's and operated by Von Roll, functioning successfully in the US.

"As I have stated on many occasions previously, the standards set for operating the plant in Bermuda will ensure safe operations,'' Dr. Terceira said.

"In addition, there will be close monitoring of the stack emissions and the disposal of the ash residue.'' Mr. Stuart Hayward The Hon. Clarence Terceira.