Residents and businesses in Bermuda are actively taking part in helping to discard their hazardous waste materials but more participation is needed.

Waste Control officer Mr. John Odisio, who has been in Bermuda for 19 months, organising the collection of the Island's hazardous waste said: "There is a lot of stuff that we haven't seen yet.

"We know there are many service stations and vehicle repair places that use solvents and we haven't heard from them.'' He added: "I'd like to see those people participate in proper waste management by putting the waste in proper containers and bringing it to us when it is full.'' Mr. Odisio said he had no idea what people do with their waste. "People might dig a hole and bury the hazardous waste in the backyard.

"Eventually it will get into the water and migrate through the limestone which will then lead to it getting into the ocean.

"That is typical for waste that is poured into the ground. Chemicals can move underground either one foot a day or one foot a year.'' Mr. Odisio wanted to remind the public that this Friday and Saturday are the hazardous waste drop off days for businesses and home owners.

"They can drop hazardous waste materials off between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Devon Springs Recycling Centre. Household hazardous products include paints, thinners, solvents, motor oil, swimming pool chemicals, household cleaners, moth balls, brake fluid, polishes, pesticides, fluorescent tubes and mercury thermometers.

Householders are advised to keep the waste in original or marked containers and carry products so they do not tip over or mix together.

And companies are invited to dump parts, adhesives, chemicals, hydroxides, acids and mercury. Both will be free of charge.

The public is also being reminded that empty household containers can be discarded in the trash, they do not need to be dumped if they do not have anything in them. "We started collecting waste from businesses about a month ago. They were dropping off things like solvents, paint thinners, waste gas and kerosene sludge oil from tanks.

"Waste paints, and photo chemicals from engravers have also been collected.'' He added that about 30 businesses have taken part in dropping off waste, and 6,000 gallons of waste has been dropped off at Sally Port in Dockyard where there is a storage area for hazardous waste.

Mr. Odisio also said the Education Department had taken the waste from school chemistry labs and put it in containers.

And at the Botanical Gardens 30 55-gallon drums, filled with old banned pesticides have been collected.

As far as having the suitable attire on for handling hazardous waste, Mr.

Odisio said they hired the Fire Service to clean the containers, because they have the right protective clothing.

"It depends on where you are working. If you are working with pesticides you have to suit up.'' The men who sort through the other types of waste wear thin suits to prevent paint from getting in their clothes, and they also wear a cartridge type respirator.

Mr. Odisio added that much work needed to be done around the Island.

"Within the next two weeks we will be working at the Bio Station putting their waste in containers.

"And then we start working at the Government Quarry gathering up the 100 drums of waste that have been stored out there.'' He added that all the hazardous waste being collected in Bermuda will be shipped to the Republic Environmental Systems in Hatfield, Pennsylvania where it will be sorted then destroyed, utilised or recycled.

"RES is a company that manages the hazardous waste of their clients, and I hired them to come and work with our workers to containerise, and deal with the paper work to make it possible to get the waste into the US.

"RES workers are trained to properly categorise and ship hazardous waste and treat it at their facility.'' He added that when the waste gets to the company solvents and paints can be utilised as an alternate fuel source.

But pesticides must be destroyed in a high temperature waste incinerator, and acids are neutralised.

"We received a lot more waste than I thought we would. People are becoming more aware, but before this operation there was no programme to deal with the waste problem, that is why I was hired.'' Mr. Odisio added that now Bermudians have the chance to have their hazardous waste sent away and properly disposed of.

Technical manager of RES Mr. Mike Acker said that workers from the company were in Bermuda to make sure all waste was properly classified and identified according to the US Department of Transport and the Environmental Protection Agency.

"As we are working here we are also conducting an ongoing training programme,'' Mr. Acker said.

"We are training Bermudian workers and managers on how to administrate hazardous waste programmes.'' He added that some Bermudians have asked why people from the US had to be flown in to sort the waste.

"The level of the education of an RAS worker is mandated,'' Mr. Acker said.

"You have to have at a minimum a four year degree in chemistry or environmental studies and then a month of classroom training and a further 11 months of waste management training.

"The chemists are trained to identify the chemicals and their hazards.'' SORTING THE WASTE -- Workers sort through hazardous waste that has been collected from business and households. Pictured from left is Republic Environmental Systems chemist Mr. Mike Burns and worker for the Ministry of Works and Engineering Mr. David Peniston.