operating.

Householders are urged to take batteries to drug stores, supermarkets, camera shops and jewellers.

Businesses taking part in the programme are displaying the signs "Used Batteries Here''.

BGA/Weldon and Somers Distributing will collect the batteries, which will be placed in storage on the Island, or recycled. Both companies are major battery importers.

Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira, announcing the collection programme, appealed to people not to mix up household and vehicle batteries.

Household batteries are commonly used in radios, calculators, watches, cameras, hearing aids, flashlights, toys, and cordless appliances. These batteries can be either alkaline, carbon-zinc, lithium, mercury, silve oxide or other materials.

"While safe in regular use, some of these materials present in household batteries can pollute the environment if disposed of in our normal waste stream,'' he said. "This programme is one part of Government's integrated waste management plan.'' Information on the household battery programme will be available wherever batteries are sold.