As new fees for commercial dumping go into effect Monday, Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott has a stern warning for those considering dumping trash illegally -- you're being watched.

Mr. Scott said the Ministry will not tolerate illegal dumping and has developed a surveillance system for known dumping areas.

Mr. Scott said he did not want to divulge the details of the surveillance system because he didn't want "to alert people to what to look out for''.

Areas where dumping has been seen in the past, such as Vesey Street and the Railway Trail, will be monitored however.

And he said that the Ministry is already preparing a brief for the Attorney General toward the prosecution of one trucker who was caught dumping trash.

"The legislation is on the books and we will be using it,'' said Mr. Scott.

Businesses and truckers will now be charged $35 per ton of waste dumped at Tynes Bay on weekdays and $45 per ton on Saturdays.

The loads will be weighed and the fees collected at the facility.

The drop off facility for the general public remains free.

But the possibility that the new fees for commercial waste disposal at the Tynes Bay facility will lead to dumping around Bermuda has been a concern of the Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB) committee.

KBB director Lennox Boodram told The Royal Gazette that the organisation has not yet taken a position on the new fees but will be discussing the matter at a board meeting this week.

In order to get feedback from the public on levels of concern however KBB has added a poll to their web site: "Do you think the new `tipping' fees at Tynes Bay will increase illegal dumping?'' By yesterday only four people had responded to the poll but all said they did think the fees would lead to illegal dumping.

However Mr. Scott said the Ministry fully intends to keep a close eye on dumping and he encouraged the public to report anyone they see throwing trash into Bermuda's environment to Works and Engineering.

"I would be very happy to receive calls from members of the public,'' he said. "Just note the licence plate if you see a truck or van obviously putting garbage into the environment. Obviously the people who make the report can remain anonymous, but we'd like to have the information.'' And Mr. Scott said although there will now be fees for commercial waste disposal, Government is still heavily subsidising the plant.

"Government has been subsidising at a cost of $95 per ton,'' he said. "Even with the new fee, Government will still be paying $60 per ton -- which essentially means the public are paying for truckers and commercial businesses'' to use the facility.

The Government expects to raise $1.5 million through the tipping fees. And this money will be earmarked for Government's long-term waste strategy.

"The plant is five to six years old and, even as we speak, Bermuda is generating far more waste product than when the plant first came on line,'' he said. In the future Government will have to either add a third waste stream or consider adding a second plant.

"Either way, there's going to be a cost and this money will be put toward that cost,'' said Mr. Scott.