they won't be taking a beating, but disposable cups will.

Specifically, the seniors have decided not to pitch in, but do their bit for waste disposal and the environment by bringing their own mugs and cups to meetings.

The scheme is the brain child of Mrs. Carrie DeSilva, a member of the Senior Islanders' Club in Spanish Point, who had been thinking for a long time about the large numbers of disposable cups thrown away, and of the money that could be saved if everybody brought their own mugs or cups from home.

"When I mentioned to the idea to some of the other members they thought it was a good one and agreed,'' Mrs. DeSilva said. "After all, during the Second World War we all had to conserve, so it wouldn't be difficult for us. Third World countries would relish being in our shoes. You see starving people on TV drinking out of old pots and pans, and here we are throwing things away.

Cutting down on disposables not only helps our environment, but also makes for a less expensive life.

Mr. Fred Hassell, director of the Admiralty House senior citizens programme, was so enthused about the idea that he put it to other seniors clubs' leaders, who were equally enthusiastic.

"In the Senior Islanders' craft programme alone, over 2400 cups of tea are consumed a year. That averages out to 40 cups per activity, and that's just one programme,'' Mr. Hassell said. "The Admiralty House group meets at least four times a week, and other groups, of which there are at least 15 throughout the Island, meet once or twice a week, so you can quickly see that an awful lot of money is being spent on cups which are thrown away.

"And that's not counting the Island-wide socials, where between 150 and 200 seniors get together once a month. That's even more cups being thrown away.

So, in the interests of recycling, we have decided to bring our own mugs or cups to meetings. We are very enthusiastic about the idea, and the seniors are obviously going to make a difference.''