layer.

In the United States, a law is on the way to make it illegal to dump refrigerators or air-conditioners and let the damaging CFC gases inside escape.

The ban is being imposed because when CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) reach the atmosphere they break down the ozone layer, allowing more harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach the earth. The rays can increase the chance of skin cancer and damage crops.

But in Bermuda there is no such law in the pipeline yet.

Instead, the Environment Ministry is encouraging Bermuda residents to use a new commercial recycling scheme run by Air Care, a Hamilton air-conditioning company.

Government environmental engineer Dr. Tom Sleeter said the Environment Ministry had received calls from Green-minded residents asking what they should do with their old refrigerators. "We say they should try to get the CFCs recovered,'' he said. "We refer them to Air Care.'' Air Care general manager Mr. George Skinner said workers would go to a customer's home and pump out the CFCs from an old domestic or car air-conditioner, refrigerator, de-humidifier or fire extinguisher before recycling the chemical. "In the worst case it would cost $50 to $60.'' "We're saying everyone has a responsibility to take care of this environment,'' added Mr. Skinner. "We feel that we have a moral obligation to try and do the right thing.'' Air Care would like to see Bermuda pass an anti-dumping law like the US, he added. "It would make people aware of what we're doing and it would make other companies aware that there's a problem.'' Dr. Sleeter said the US had gone further than most other countries in action against CFCs. As a dependent territory of the UK, Bermuda was covered by the Montreal Protocol -- an international agreement on phasing out eight types of CFCs by the year 2000.

Among other things, this meant Government had to monitor the amount of CFCs imported in bulk to the Island -- about 17,000kg a year.

"We're doing all the things we're supposed to be doing,'' said Dr. Sleeter.

"All the businesses that work with CFCs here are very well educated on it.

"We're abiding by the Protocol and local importers have been extremely co-operative. They are ahead of the game because they're well informed by their suppliers, which are mainly in the US.'' A further international agreement, phasing out another 11 CFCs, does not yet apply to dependent territories of the UK. But the Island is working with other colonies to get it made law.

"We're waiting for this new legislation,'' said Dr. Sleeter. "The idea of whether we make a law on dumping is under active consideration.'' DUMPED -- Old air-conditioners lying on Pembroke Dump yesterday. Bermudians are being urged to get CFC gases removed from appliances before throwing them out.