Beachcombing with a difference gets underway this weekend when Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB) begins a month-long, island-wide Marine Debris Survey.

"In order to deal with the problem, we need to know more about the trash around Bermuda's coastline and beaches,'' says Mrs. Ellen Meadd, KBB's environmental committee chairman. "This will be the first time we have attempted to identify the type and amount of litter.'' Besides trying to find out the main local sources of trash, the KBB is also anxious to find out how much debris floats into Bermuda from passing ships.

KBB is asking that, during the week of May 27, volunteers choose a small stretch of shoreline (about 100 feet would be ideal) and clean it up.

Groups of volunteers may be made up of friends, family, clubs, or companies.

"But we don't want anyone to record what they find that first week! We are then asking our volunteers to go back to the same spot, exactly a week later, clear up the rubbish and then record on a tally sheet (supplied by KBB) exactly what has come in during that week. We are asking them to repeat this process for the next three weeks.'' Trash collected will be tallied, bagged and labelled and delivered to a central point in Hamilton where, eventually, explains Ms Meadd, "we will weigh and count all the treasures!'' Says Ms Jane Brett of Works and Engineering: "We are liaising with KBB on this project. We're very concerned, as there appears to have been a significant increase in the amount of debris around Bermuda's coastline. This will help us find out the extent of the problem.'' Ms Meadd, who urges people to volunteer their services, says that KBB would like to have about 50 groups to cover the main areas of shoreline. "We need this survey to be representative of the whole Island -- not just places like the South Shore beaches, but also places like Ferry Reach and the West End.'' The tally sheets, which will be handed out to each group along with collection bags, sets the types of trash likely to be found into seven main categories -- plastic, glass, rubber, foamed plastic, paper, wood and metal.

Some of the items that are regularly found to be littering some of the most beautiful beaches and inlets in the world include such eye-sores as buckets, crates, six-pack holders (in which fish and birds get trapped), condoms, tyres, fast food containers, food and drink cans, and 55-gallon drums.

Ms Meadd emphasises that all volunteers should follow the basic safety rules.

"Wear shoes and protective gloves; watch out for glass, syringes and other sharp objects; do not attempt to lift heavy items; stay away from large drums or five-gallon buckets, but do contact W&E and we will arrange collection.'' Anyone interested in volunteering to take part in the 1995 KBB Marine Debris Project is asked to contact KBB's Mr. Dwayne Williams at 295-5142 as soon as possible.

BEACHCOMBERS' `REWARDS' -- Students from the Bermuda Institute, who are taking part in the 1995 KBB Marine Debris Project, pictured with some of the trash they have already collected from the beach at Warwick Long Bay. Pictured with the students are Bermuda Institute principal, Mrs. Sheila Holder, Ms Jane Brett of the Department of Works and Engineering who are liaising with KBB on the project, Bermuda Institute teacher and KBB committee member, Mr. Mike Faison, and KBB president, Mrs. Kendaree Burgess Fairn.