recycling project unveiled this week by the Bermuda Telephone Company, the Ministry of Works and Engineering, the Corporation of Hamilton, and Island Press Ltd.

Kicking off within the next two weeks the partners -- under the banner Project Directory Recycle (PDR) -- will launch a drive to collect an estimated 20,000 old telephone directories from residents and businesses throughout the Hamilton area. This year's telephone directories are to be distributed Island-wide on Monday.

Once collected, newsprint from the 1996 directories will be shredded and turned into equine and bovine bedding. From there the soiled newsprint will be composted and spread over farmers' fields. The glossy covers and spines, however, will be removed and destroyed.

"Each year we (BTC) distribute about 70,000 telephone directories across the Island,'' the telephone company's Assistant Vice President of Government and Public Relations, Karla Lacey-Minors, told a press conference. "That's the equivalent of nine shipping containers full of books.'' The project will provide an environmentally responsible alternative to outright disposal, she added.

Minister of Works and Engineering C.V. (Jim) Woolridge welcomed the project, saying it is a natural extension of composting activity already underway and is good news for area farmers. The collection of old directories is scheduled to take place in Hamilton only between April 14-16, said Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt. "Obviously we're not equipped to deal with all 70,000 directories at this time,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

A special PDR booth -- staffed by Telco volunteers -- will be set up on Front Street near the reviewing stand on April 15-16, and will operate between 8.30 a.m. and noon.

RECYCLING AT A GLANCE Businesses or residents in Hamilton with more than six but less than 50 directories will be given recycling bags for the old telephone books and are requested to put them out for regular collection between April 14-16.

Businesses or residents in Hamilton with less than five directories are asked to bring them to the special PDR booth on Front Street between 8.30 a.m. and noon, April 15-16.

Businesses or residents in Hamilton with more than 50 directories will be given recycling bags and asked to contact the City's Works Depot at 295-6446 to arrange for a pick-up.

Meanwhile, primary students from Dellwood and Mount St. Agnes will be participating in the programme as well, collecting directories from home and bringing them to the PDR booth.