Regional evaluation municipal solid waste management services: country analytical report Cayman Islands evaluation 2002

The Cayman Islands has experienced a significant growth in population over the past two decades and with
exponential growth in waste production. The islands industry and commercial activities have all lent itself to
these increases and the George Town Landfill, which was a typical example of the old dumping and burning
practices, has been rendered obsolete with the introduction of the sanitary landfill.
The resident population of the Cayman Islands on Census night stood at 39,410 of which 390 were institutionalized.
The number of households in the Cayman Islands increased to 14,907 in the 1999 Census from a total of
8,115 in 1989. George Town, the capital has 20,626 persons and Cayman Brac / Little Cayman 1,937 persons,
combined.
A waste audit undertaken during the months of May to September 1999 established the annual disposal rate
for the base year to be 44,000 tons. The George Town landfill was expected to reach capacity in February,
2002 (Alternative Systems Analysis – Solid Waste Feasibility Study for Grand Cayman, 2001). Later, the Waste
Disposal Options Review Committee (WDOR) estimated that the existing George Town Landfill will reach full
capacity by mid 2005. Several alternatives are available for the continuing disposal of Municipal Solid Waste
(MSW) on the island. Composting and Waste to Energy (W-T-E) are disposal options that offer the potential
of diverting a portion of the waste stream away from the landfill. However, neither of these alternatives can
fully supplant the need for a new landfill and transfer station. There will always be a portion of the waste
stream that will require landfill disposal whether it is non- compostable material, non – combustible material,
incinerator ash, or C&D.
A regularity and efficiency of collection has been achieved over the past two years through the replacement of
vehicles and better management practices. Curb side waste collection services are provided by the Cayman
Islands Department of Environmental Health (DEH). Residential waste is collected on all three islands with the
use of rear loading compactor vehicles. Each route has a schedule for twice-per-week collection. Commercial
waste collection is accomplished through container through container rental and servicing. Tipping fees are not
currently charged at the landfills; however annual garbage fees are due and payable by January 15th each year
to the Cayman Islands Government.
The following materials are prohibited in standard residential or commercial collection programs: hazardous
and / or combustible materials such as gasoline or motor oil, dead animals, biomedical waste such as syringes,
infectious materials or sewage, bulky waste or drums of liquid.
The Cayman Islands has been involved in various forms of recycling for many years. The Recycling area at the
George Town Landfill prepares and ships the following materials overseas: lead acid batteries and waste oil, aluminium
cans, office paper and other materials such as natural Christmas trees are chipped in early January and
free yard mulch is offered to residents. Time and locations are announced each year.
The landfill in George Town, Grand Cayman is located on a 58 acre, government – owned parcel of land, opened
from 4:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Saturday. A public drop off area is open 24 hours a day for small loads only.
Waste is disposed of in Cayman Brac via a landfill located on the south side of the island, opposite the public
beach and open to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Saturday. On Little Cayman, the landfill is
open to the public from 7:00 am to 5:00pm Monday to Saturday.
Biomedical waste is collected separately and incinerated in the multi – purpose waste incinerators on Grand
Cayman and Cayman Brac. An appointment must be made for incineration of any other materials (e.g. confidential
documents) prior to arriving at the landfill. Biomedical waste generators are required to be
licensed.
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
COUNTRY ANALYTICAL REPORT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES 1
Large, bulky items such as bicycles, couches, tires and old appliances are not collected as part of the residential
and commercial waste collection service. These items are taken to the landfill for safe disposal. The DEH offers
special bulk waste clean up campaigns which are advertised in the newspaper and on radio.
Despite the fact that a significant amount of improvement has taken place over the years in the solid waste
management sector, that is still a long way to go and the Government through the Department of Environmental
Health (DEH) endeavours continue to its efforts to creating a clean environment and a citizenry committed to
a similar objective, through a sustained public education programme.