Recycling has received a new boost within the business community as Government announced a new partnership initiative.

The Government yesterday introduced their Recycle Bermuda Business Partnership with an initial five businesses and requires the participating companies to take the lead in implementing recycling in their offices.

Yesterday, Minister of Works and Engineering Dennis Lister said the efforts of these five businesses proved there was a real sense of responsibility among the corporate community for Bermuda’s environment.

He said: “Recycling is a partnership between the Government, every organisation and each resident — all of whom have a stake in Bermuda’s future. In addition to school’s, residents and Government employees, we believe the business community and the Island’s hotel establishments can play a critical role in raising awareness of the environment and take steps to reduce, reuse and recycle.

“The Recycle Bermuda Business Partnership Initiative commits local businesses to increase recycling awareness and participation within their companies as well as encouraging their staff to recycle both at work and at home.

“The support of our first Recycle Bermuda partners bodes well for our efforts to engage the community in doing more to recycle.

“These organisations understand that recycling is more than an environmental and economic issues, its part of our legacy to future generations.”

The $8.35 million recycling plant at Bailey’s Bay Quarry was officially opened on April 2 this year and is able to process 25 tonnes of tin, aluminium and glass in one day.

Although the Minister recognised that many companies already do a lot to help with recycling and taking care of Bermuda, the partnership will help to boost these efforts.

To work with the Government the businesses are required to have recycle receptacles within the work place, ensuring Recyclables are collected and delivered to the Recycling Centre and promotion of the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) by circulating recycling literature throughout the company on a monthly basis. And these requirements must be implemented within three months, for new businesses to be recognised as partners by receiving a Recycle Bermuda plaque and a certificate of participation for their efforts.

Mr. Lister hopes the support and efforts by the first five partners will not stop at them or with the changes that were required.

He added: “These are the just the basic requirements but we encourage companies to develop their own initiatives whether to save energy, reduce the use of paper documents, recycle outdated telephone books, or provide canvas bags for shopping.

“While many of these initiatives have already been introduced by our first business partners these organisations may not have received the full recognition from the community regarding their environmental initiatives.

“Through the Recycle Bermuda Business Partnership Initiative Government not only intends to recognise businesses for their praiseworthy efforts to recycle but will continue to raise awareness on the benefits of recycling among all segments of society.”