"Bermuda has long been looked at as an example within the region for other islands to follow," said Minister of Public Works, Lt. Col. the Hon. David Burch, after three representatives from the government of the British Virgin Islands, touched down in Bermuda on Sunday.

The representatives are here for a three-day visit to learn about Bermuda's waste disposal system.

The BVI team consists of the Hon. Marlon Penn, Minister of Health and Social Development, responsible for waste management; Petrona Davies, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry; and Albert Gillings, Senior Project Manager of the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency.

The delegation's focus will centre on Bermuda's waste management processes, including the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Facility in Devonshire, the Marsh Folly Depot and the Airport Facility.

Bermuda remains a regional leader due to its decision in the 1980s to transition from a landfill disposal system to the construction and use of the incinerator, which is used primarily to decrease the size of combustible waste by up to 90 percent within the Island's waste management plan.

Minister Burch added: "The Tynes Bay plant remains a critical asset supporting the Island's day-to-day function.

"It's no secret that while there have been some mechanical challenges with the ageing facility, the Government has pledged to spend $7 million on significant maintenance upgrades on the plant during the current fiscal year."

In addition to meeting with Minister Burch and Kirk Outerbridge, the Chief Engineer for the Ministry of Public Works, the BVI team paid a courtesy visit to the Premier, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP. Over the next few days, they will visit with the Minister of Health, the Hon. Kim Wilson, JP, MP and Minister of Social Development and Seniors, the Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP, MP.

Following their tour of the Tynes Bay facility on Monday, the visiting representatives are scheduled to tour the King Edward Memorial Hospital Emergency Department and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute while on Island.