The Ministry of Works and Engineering is to help people dispose of electronic waste with its first E-Waste Drop Off Day this year on Saturday.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. a collection point for electronic waste will be set up at the Tynes Bay Waste Facility, on Palmetto Road, Devonshire.

Computers, televisions, cellular phones, mp3 players, small appliances and any other device containing a circuit board can be dropped off at Tynes Bay.

Disposing of electronic waste or e-waste has become more and more of an issue as people try to keep up with the constantly evolving world of consumer electronics. Many electronics contain materials hazardous to the earth and special measures must be taken to ensure that they are disposed of properly.

According to a spokesman the Ministry of Works and Engineering's e-waste recycling programme is designed to "reduce the potential environmental impact in Bermuda regarding the disposal of these materials and also to facilitate recycling of these materials overseas".

Because Bermuda does not have the facilities to recycle e-waste, materials are sent abroad where they are shredded and properly disposed of.