hotels involved in recycling, hoteliers were told this week.

At a workshop on waste management at The Princess, visiting resident manager of Eaton Centre Marriott in Toronto Mr. Timothy Terceira told some 50 hoteliers, waste management workers, and garbage haulers how his hotel has reaped numerous benefits since implementing recycling throughout the 459-room property over a year ago.

He said not only did the hotel, which opened in September, 1991, save money, but it also received good publicity.

Mr. Terceira, who is the son of Works and Engineering Minister the Hon.

Clarence Terceira, said publicity and environmental security were the main motivating factors behind the hotel's decision to recycle.

Legal requirements to recycle material such as cardboard also played a part, he admitted.

But Mr. Terceira stressed that the hotel's scheme would not have worked, had employers and staff not been environmentally conscious.

Recycling was a way of life in Canadian households, he said.

"So recycling in the hotel for us was something that was very natural.'' Because the hotel was new, Mr. Terceira said, they also had the opportunity to do "something really unique''.

The hotel's staff, from the general manager to housekeepers, sat on teams that formed the recycling scheme, he said.

Blue bins for recycling waste were placed throughout the hotel, including guest rooms.

The hotel, which recycles office paper, newspapers, glass bottles, non-refundable soda cans, plastic, oil and grease, cardboard, and food waste, spent about $84,000 on waste removal last year.

Of that amount, $69,000 was for removal of non-recyclable garbage.

Mr. Terceira said if the hotel did not have any non-recyclables, it could save about $50,000 a year.

He said the hotel's recycling scheme, which has received publicity in the "Toronto Star'' and magazines was supported by guests and the surrounding community.

But Mr. Terceira, admitted that the scheme was not perfect, and acknowledged that hoteliers could decide what was best for their properties.

Works and Engineering's collection and processing officer Mr. Delwyn Trott, however, stressed that by recycling hoteliers would not only be helping their properties, but "Bermuda as a whole''.

Noting that hotels are the largest producers of waste in Bermuda, Mr. Trott said they can also lead by example in recycling.

"Thousands (of workers) in the hotels are residents,'' he told hoteliers.

"If you can get your people involved, they're going to take it home and then we're going to come together on this.

"You play a vital part in this.'' Mr. Trott said Works and Engineering had also met several times with the Bermuda Industrial Union, which represents those at the grass roots.

The union has shown eagerness to recycle in general, he said.

"Once they see you, which are the biggest generators of waste doing it,'' Mr.

Trott said. "They will follow. So let's get on board and make Bermuda a better place.'' About half a dozen hotels have recycling schemes in place. Representatives from two of the properties -- Ariel Sands and Pretty Penny Guest House -- were at the workshop.

Mr. Timothy Terceira.