household garbage by 10 percent.

Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons told Hamilton Rotarians this week that his goal would see 8,000 tonnes less garbage each year.

His comments were part of a speech at The Princess Hotel in which he reviewed Government's waste management plans which are intended to complement the operation of the Tynes Bay incinerator -- set to open this spring.

Mr. Gibbons explained that Bermuda's small population generated some 80,000 tonnes of waste a year -- an amount he wanted cut by 8,000 tonnes.

And he unveiled some of the ways his department aimed to cope with the problem.

"My goal as the Minister concerned with waste management is to maintain and improve the environment on this Island and that environment includes air, land, sea, ground water, social setting, economy and citizens' feeling of well being,'' he said.

Mr. Gibbons outlined some of the facilities Government had set up to bring about waste management such as a compost turner and tub grinders for shredding horticultural waste.

He added that much of the waste managed by Works and Engineering staff was produced by households, hotels and restaurants and included horticultural waste, oils, chemicals, sludges and litter.

Mr. Gibbons said by year-end Government would have brought about two major changes in waste management.

"We have just made the application for the operating licence to the newly formed Environment Authority to operate the new Tynes Bay Waste Treatment Facility,'' he said.

"The plant is scheduled for a hot start-up in the spring and to be fully operational by the end of the year.'' However, the Marsh Folly landfill which has been in steady use for the past 50 years will be shut down, making Bermuda one of the few places in the world without a landfill.

Mr. Gibbons showered praise on two local companies for initiatives that have been helpful to waste management effort.

He said one local paint company recycled leftover paint which it then distributed to local charitable organisations, while an accounting firm established an environmental committee to save energy, reduce waste and encourage recycling.

And Hunt's Sanitation Services was awarded a new special waste contract to collect bulky, non burnable items like stoves, fridges and vehicles. Such items will be cleaned of oils and hazardous materials before disposal at the landfill site off the Civil Air Terminal.

Waste oil will be collected from commercial generators and lead acid batteries will be collected from cars and shipped to the United States by a private Bermuda company.

Buckets have been placed at 36 shops throughout the Island to collect household batteries which are then shipped to the United States.