myself.'' These are the sentiments of a horse who appeared in an advertisement in Monday's Royal Gazette , promoting this year's Project Directory Recycle.

The Project is in its fifth year and last year's millennium phone directories will be collected and recycled into animal bedding in an annual initiative between public and private sectors.

Project Directory Recycle began in 1997 with the City of Hamilton and was extended a year later to include the Island's primary schools.

The project netted more than 9,000 directories last year and gave children the opportunity to learn about the benefits of recycling.

Last year a pizza party was thrown for 20 Paget Primary students after their class collected the most phone directories.

Paget Primary collected 1,398 directories and East End, Victor Scott and Saltus Cavendish each collected more than 1,000.

A BTC spokesperson said the advertisement marked phase one of the project in which businesses were asked to collect their old phone books.

They have been asked to put between six and 50 directories in clear or blue bags and to leave them in their normal pick-up spot on May 29, 30 or 31.

Businesses with more than 50 directories can schedule a special pick-up by calling 295-6446.

Phase two of the project -- which is the school competition -- has not been finalised yet, although schools have been invited to participate.