quality of Bermuda's environment were honoured by the Keep Bermuda Beautiful Committee on Friday.

The KBB's 1992 Merit Awards were handed out at a special ceremony hosted by Bacardi International at their head offices on Pitts Bay Road. The Governor, Lord Waddington and Lady Waddington were in attendance, with Lady Waddington presenting recipients with their awards.

KBB president Mr. Barry Brewer said that the Awards Committee had had a "very difficult time'' choosing from the nominations it received, adding that there were many unsung heroes.

"There are so many people who give without telling anyone they're doing something for the environment,'' he said.

Emphasising the importance of KBB's work, Mr. Brewer said: "We live in a very small, crowded Island and every bit of green is important.'' Mrs. Phyllis West-Harron, past president and one of the founding members of the KBB, received an award for more than 50 years environmental service.

"I don't know how they are ever going to get rid of me,'' Mrs. West-Harron joked afterwards, "Maybe this is a hint.'' When asked if Bermuda's litter problem had improved since the founding of the KBB in the 1960s, Mrs. West-Harron said that things were "sadly, very much the same''.

She said that Bermudians would have to develop a conscience and sense of pride in their country before things would change.

Three Members of Parliament received awards this year: Environmental Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, for recognising the importance of the marine environment, PLP MP Mr. Nelson Bascome, for his work with Friswell's Hill United and Devonshire Colts' clean-ups, and Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward.

Mr. Brewer praised Mr. Hayward for being "at the forefront'' of Bermuda's environmental movement and for his efforts to "bring environmentalism into every home in Bermuda.'' The KBB president also said it was encouraging to see so many "pro-environment role models'' in Parliament.

Other individual recipients were Mr. Keith DeSilva, for keeping the area around his Victoria Street lunch wagon exceptionally clean and attractive, and Mr. Peter Green, who spent years clearing and re-landscaping Marshall's Island after Hurricane Emily.

Mr. Beresford Swan, who was nominated because of his clean-up efforts in the St. Monica's Road area, was unable to collect his Merit Award personally, due to poor health.

The Bermuda Paint Company was honoured for pioneering the development of non-toxic paint products. The firm introduced its bio-degradable wall paint in June of this year -- one month before the debut of a similar product in the US.

The company is working towards having a 95 to 100 percent non-toxic product line by the year 2000.

Two Government departments were honoured for their work: the Parks Department for its care of Bermuda's parks and reserves, and Works and Engineering for developing and implementing a comprehensive recycling plan.

Mr. Dan Hoornweg, solid waste manager with Works and Engineering, said the Island had embraced recycling, and his department was "pleasantly surprised'' with the programme's success so far.

The final phase of the plan, the residential pick-up of recyclables, is slated to begin in mid-November.

CLEAN SWEEP -- Recipients of the Keep Bermuda Beautiful Committee's 1992 Merit Awards gather on the front steps of the Bacardi International Building following Friday's awards ceremony. In the foreground are (left to right): KBB vice-president, Mrs. Kendaree Burgess Fairn, Lady Waddington, Lord Waddington and KBB president, Mr. Barry Brewer.