Better recycling is neededNovember 20, 2006Dear Sir,As a frequent visitor to Bermuda, I am always perplexed at the lack of recycling that I see on the Island. Yes, the bottle and can recycling containers are apparent and that's a good thing. But when I watched the evening trash collection from businesses in Hamilton the other day, valuable paper resources (corrugated boxes) were being disposed of with other refuse. There is no more cost effective recycling than commercial paper collection in densely populated areas. Although I must confess to not knowing the details, disposal costs be high and available options limited with the size of the Island. High disposal costs are the most important driver recycling in the world and that's why places like Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands are the best recyclers.

Bermuda has all the fundamentals for a first class recycling effort and its environmental benefits fit well with your fragile ecosystem. Even the visitors, many of whom are from the Northeast US (where recycling is part of the everyday routine) have asked me why Bermuda does not have a better recycling programme. You can and should! As an environmental professional, two other areas strike me: the lack of solar power (and it can be done within the important aesthetic boundaries that exist on this beautiful island) and Smart Cars. I've seen few of these very of these ultra efficient vehicles both from a size and petrol use viewpoint. One wonders why?BILL MOORE

Atlanta, Georgia