advertising campaign aimed at educating and encouraging the public to safeguard the quality of air they breathe.

The campaign, launched this week, is geared towards informing the public about special wastes and special waste separation.

Minister of Works and Engineering the Hon. Leonard Gibbons said the programme would be known as "Keep it Clean''.

"The flagship of the new plan is a totally self-automated 24-hour special waste hotline,'' he said.

Members of the public could call 297-7616 and obtain detailed information on the proper disposal of special waste items.

"If the self-automated service does not answer a specific question, the caller can leave a brief message, together with a name and number and the call will be returned later by a member of the Ministry's team during working hours,'' said Mr. Gibbons.

When the Tynes Bay Incinerator is running at full steam later this year, the Ministry hopes residents will automatically separate "special wastes'' such as fluorescent light tubes, household batteries, vehicle batteries and PVC tubes from the rest of their trash.

This would help prevent the incinerator from burning unnecessary items which would in turn pollute the air, explained Mr. Gibbons.

He added that in order to draw the public's attention to the need for waste separation, and to inform them of the new hotline service, an extensive advertising campaign would be put into motion.

"Radio, television and newspapers will be used to relay the message, Keep it Clean.

"Posters will be displayed at all Government buildings including schools, and flyers will be given to hardware and related retail businesses,'' Mr. Gibbons said.

He added that there were already a number of households and several businesses that separated their special wastes as part of their recycling programme.

"In order to make the transition as easy as possible, for those who have not yet begun, the Ministry has streamlined its current waste management facilities to accommodate the public,'' Mr. Gibbons said.

From now on, householders can dispose of their small quantities of waste as follows: PVC pipe and fluorescent light tubes can be dropped off 24 hours a day seven days a week at either the Airport or Devon Springs Waste Management Facility or between 7.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday and on Saturday from 7.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marsh Folly facility.

Vehicle batteries can be taken to any participating garage, gas station or marina or can be left at the 24 hour drop-off at the Devon Springs Facility.

Household batteries can be deposited in battery buckets located in practically every major retail battery outlet Island-wide.

The public may be curious to know what happens to these items after they are disposed, said Mr. Gibbons.

"PVC pipe is not an environmental hazard unless it is burned and therefore final disposal will be at the Airport waste management facility.'' Fluorescent light tubes will be sent to the US for recovery of parts and "to date one container of tubes collected from businesses and households has already been shipped''.

Vehicle batteries will be shipped to the Exide Corporation in the US for recovery of parts. To date over 7,000 batteries have been collected and shipped.

He added that it was anticipated that household batteries would, when sufficient numbers are collected, also be sent to the US for recovery.

Mr. Gibbons noted that to address other "special wastes'' such as paints, solvents, gasoline etc. the Ministry would soon announce a Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day for both household and industry generated waste.

The Ministry hopes that by August all residents will have begun separating their waste and heard about the Special Waste Separation Programme and telephone hotline.

Mr. Gibbons added: "Hopefully the public will do what's necessary to make the air clean.

"The programme is designed to educate the public and I hope they enjoy using the telephone line as an opportunity to get very good information.''