Dumping potentially hazardous toxins from old computers and electronic waste at the Airport is Bermuda's only option right now, according to Works Minister Alex Scott.

However more options are becoming available, with the Ministry working on a ten-year plan for the disposal of electronic waste which includes the idea of selling the waste to US wholesalers such as Best Buy.

"Obviously we have concerns after taking a hard look at the disposal of electronic waste and appliances," said Mr. Scott. Such waste includes old televisions, computer monitors, microwaves, air-conditioners, and so on. "All have some form of potential toxins in them," he said. "If it isn't lead, it's mercury, nickel, zinc ..."

Right now in industries outside of Bermuda, he said, such waste is dealt with by the process of de-manufacturing. The old computer is basically broken down into pieces and sold for recycled parts, often to wholesalers such as Best Buy. "That way they are kept out of the environment and kept in use," said Mr. Scott.

In Bermuda however all electronic waste is dumped at the Airport, said Mr. Scott.

The danger from the toxins is less than the danger from asbestos dumped in the 1950's (asbestos has a 30-year period of incubation).

"It is less of a threat but it cannot be ignored," he said, adding that there was still the possibility of the toxins leaching into the ground or seawater.

"Environment doesn't like it (dumping at the airport)," he said, "but they agree for no other reason than at present it is the only option."

That may change under the Ministry's ten-year-plan.

"Oh boy, you would have to have a lot of time (to outline that)," said Mr. Scott. "We want to cut down on the amount of electronic waste, ship it out of our environment."

Not everything can be burned at the Tynes Bay Incinerator, Mr. Scott said, and the Ministry is considering options such as creating new dumps, creating one concentrated dump, reclaiming land as at the Airport, or moving the waste out of the Island completely - compacting it like old cars and shipping it out.

The Ministry is also looking into de-manufacturing, but Mr. Scott said it is expensive.

"If we are breaking (waste) down and taking out the elements industries want to recycle, the cost to Bermuda ... may eventually come back to the consumer," said Mr. Scott.

"But it would be in the interests of the environment," he added.

Mr. Scott estimated the cost per product would be between $5 and $8. With approximately 50,000 televisions, 10,000 computer monitors and hundreds of thousands of other electronic items, he estimated the economic impact of de-manufacturing would be around $100,000.

In Bermuda, that cost could be absorbed fairly easily, considering the high level of consumerism and commercialism of both businesses and Bermudians on the Island. "It could not impact too much," said Mr. Scott.

The parts would then be shipped out to wholesalers or resold to manufacturers. "It would be a plus if we could get a few pennies back," said Mr. Scott.

And the amount of waste to be disposed of can be cut down in several ways, he added. "As we speak, electronic industries are developing methodologies overtaking the issues: instead of using lead ... they now use liquid screens."

Such liquid screens are thinner and more user-friendly from an environmental point of view as they do not contain harmful metals such as lead.

"It's not policy (to use them) here but everywhere we can in Works and Engineering and Government we are switching to liquid screens," said Mr. Scott.

"We certainly would encourage it (a policy on using liquid screens)," he continued. "As they become more available and less expensive, the market and purchasers will choose them just from an economic point of view.

"However if no one is making any grand move towards them we may review and make it policy for Government and a requirement for the population," depending on the environmental impact and cost benefits.