Bermuda may be one of the world's most affluent nations, but its method of treating waste is "totally irresponsible''.

Environmentalist Heather Henderson, who spent more than 70 hours on research and interviews to compile a 13-page report entitled "Bermuda's Waste Management'', gave this conclusion.

Mrs. Henderson noted that since her paper was compiled a few years ago, some of the numbers may have changed somewhat. But according to the report, close to 80,000 tons of waste was produced in 1994 -- most of which was burned instead of recycled. The report also noted that Bermuda businesses alone generated about 32,000 tons of waste per year, of which 13,000 tons was paper which was equal to about 250,000 trees.

When such paper was burned instead of recycled, it contributed to the global "greenhouse effect'', Mrs. Henderson wrote.

And although 95 percent of junked cars in the US are recycled, in Bermuda old vehicles sit in the dump and rust.

Mrs. Henderson said she originally wrote the article for a tourism publication more than two years ago, but the report became "too extensive and controversial''. The report gives a brief history about the Island's waste management systems including mass-burn incineration, the airport facility and the hazardous waste treatment facility at Tynes Bay in Devonshire.

Mrs. Henderson's report, however, is most critical about the lack of a proper recycling facility in Bermuda -- a situation which she called "an embarrassment''.

The Devon Springs Centre in Devonshire for recycling is described as a place "hardly fresh and clean as the name denotes'' where "blue bags fly around haphazardly on a breezy day, decorating the surrounding trees and nearby residences''.

And the report suggested that Bermuda's cavalier attitude toward waste disposal was at least partially linked to the Island's affluence, but "like many other nations with increased economic growth, it soon became a disposable society''.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette , Mrs. Henderson said: "We burn everything and recycle nothing... the awareness in Bermuda just isn't there.

"Like many things here, people tend to turn a blind eye... but now that we're seeing the after-effects, we're just moving from a one-stop shop method to another.'' Environmentalist slams Bermuda's waste management And she claimed the Tynes Bay facility relied on the diligence of the Bermudian public to separate out hazardous materials -- but the public was often unaware of the consequences of improper disposal.

For example, when batteries were burned, they released dangerous mercury and cadmium into the air, she said.

The report contained a few controversial illusions. For example, although the Tynes Bay facility installed a device to control emissions, the report notes that "a local resident in the Tynes Bay area... received a complimentary roof painting from Government apparently due to some complication''. The report also noted that the airport facility harboured "a pile of refrigerators; some have been drained of their contaminants and others have not'' presumably because of a lack of manpower.

And it stated that although the Marsh Folly Waste Treatment Facility underwent some important cosmetic improvements, it was possible that "far beneath new layers of compost, the dump is still leaching toxins into what used to be one of Bermuda's richest ecosystems''.

Mrs. Henderson's report also posed questions and possible solutions to the recycling problem.

For example, she suggested that the huge quantity of shipping crates that were burned at Tynes Bay could be re-used or offered to the public for fire kindling.

And although Bermuda imported a number of goods from abroad, she said the amount of packaging on local goods could be decreased.

The report noted that Bermuda businesses could also play a key role by creating "paperless offices'' which used e-mails for internal messages whenever possible -- and the report cited the Bank of N.T. Butterfield and Bermuda Electric Light Company as local companies which were implementing these sorts of steps.

Although high costs of conservation programmes were often cited as the reason why more progressive steps were not taken, Mrs. Henderson said Bermuda's behaviour as a country was not excusable.

"We seem to find money for everything else... we spend $70 million (on the Tynes Bay facility) and put not one cent into a decent recycling programme,'' she said. "There are lots of things people can do on a personal level, but there's more we can do as a country.

"Don't give me the excuse about money... everyone can keep pointing fingers, but we as a nation need to be more aware and more responsible.'' If any organisations are interested in possibly publishing the report, Mrs.

Henderson can be contacted at P.O. Box FL 396, Flatts FLBX.