Engineering Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira revealed yesterday.

He said surveys showed empty beer bottles make up 17 percent of the garbage strewn around the Island.

Beer bottles are one of the "worst culprits'' in the Island's litter problem according to an analysis carried out last year, he told Hamilton Rotarians during an update on Government's ambitious waste management plan.

Dr. Terceira admitted the idea would probably be met with opposition, especially from liquor importers, but he appealed to the public to "at least think about'' drinking their favourite beer from a can -- if it's available in a can -- instead of a bottle.

Dr. Terceira said his Ministry was also looking at ways of reducing some of the other products currently being imported to the Island.

"We are looking at ways of educating the public about purchasing items in bulk or with less packaging,'' he said. "The amount of packaging material coming into Bermuda is horrendous.'' The major components of Government's waste plan are land filling, incineration, recycling, composting and shipping abroad.

He said the drop-off centres for recyclables set up at stores and supermarkets have been a "huge success''.

"The response from the public has been overwhelming,'' he said. "We anticipated having pick ups once or twice a week, but we are having to do them on a daily basis.''