In the last year, Government has awarded waste-management contracts to Talbot Enterprises for the residential collection of recyclables, and to Butterfield Excavation for the running of the Devon Springs recycling plant.

Meanwhile, all three container ship lines are sharing the volume of recyclables being shipped to the United States.

Mr. Barry Brewer, marketing manager of Container Ship Management, said the lines were offering "a whopping break'' -- one-third to a quarter of the incoming freight rates -- which was actually costing them money.

"But it's part of our commitment to the community,'' said the former Keep Bermuda Beautiful president.

Mr. Brewer said they had looked long and hard at the problem of sending plastics abroad, but at present could not commercially afford it.

In future, Bermuda could look forward to recycling spin-offs, said National Trust Environmental Officer Ms Toby Butterfield.

Plastic lumber from a small plastic recycling plant could be used for docking instead of wood, and plastic benches could become a feature of Bermuda's parks.

Manager of the Devon Springs recycling plant Mr. Llewellyn Butterfield said a small plastic industry was a possibility.