Waste Management in Cayman

what they deem ‘effective’ grassroots environmental initiatives. We hope their intervention empowers and strengthens the environmental strategies already present in our local community, so that they can have a much greater impact.

E-Waste & Landfill Fires The George Town landfill, what is happening with it and the problem of littering has again dominated conversations in 2021. Another concern surrounding the landfill, in addition to worries about the size of it, are the frequent fires caused by issues such as the improper disposal of electronic waste, also known as ‘e-waste’. E-waste are technological materials such as mobile phones, wires and batteries, that are built in obsolescent ways, meaning they cannot often be properly recycled. In January 2021, a fire broke out at the George Town landfill due to an old cell phone battery catching fire. Although thankfully this was a small surface fire, workers will have to remain vigilant to prevent more serious fires in the future. See page 225 for more information on how to properly dispose of electronics.

Another ever-present problem is the issue of littering. Residents are reminded that under the Cayman Islands Litter Act (1982), anyone caught littering is subject to a CI$500 fine or six months imprisonment. We encourage all residents to take part in community clean-ups. If you have a dog, take a plastic bag with you and pick up rubbish when you walk them. Alternatively, get involved with Plastic Free Cayman and their monthly beach clean-ups, which are well publicised and show just how much plastic and other rubbish washes up on Cayman's beaches. If you are looking for more information on how to limit the waste you produce and further your knowledge on Cayman's environmental state, the student organisation Protect Our Future draws attention to such issues in a comprehensive way. Visit www.protectourfuture-eco.com to get involved in making a change in Cayman's ecosystem. Being Green in Cayman Cayman is already benefitting from the environmental awareness and legislation from other countries, as larger producers take responsibility for making their products more sustainable. Concern among locals for environmental protection has also grown exponentially; over 83% of those who took part in Amplify Cayman's 2021 environmental impact survey expressed concerns that pollution in Cayman, especially in the natural environment, is not being treated by officials with the utmost importance. Yet, this change of heart, as well as the production of sustainable products, remains crucial to slowing the increasing flow of rubbish to the landfill. Whether you own or are renting a home, making environmentally-friendly choices will help preserve our beautiful Island. The Government is making efforts to shred used tyres, recycle materials and bale scrap metals so that these objects do not take up valuable space in the landfill, whilst also trying to educate both schools and the general public on the importance of home waste reduction. Nevertheless, these changes rely on the participation of Cayman’s population, and people are urged to make the attitude and lifestyle changes required in order to reduce waste, and its environmental impact.

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CAYMAN

Present & Future of the Landfill Site As aforementioned, one of the most pressing environmental issues for the community is the George Town landfill site, a government facility that manages the waste residents and businesses on the Islands produce. The 90ft mound can be seen from offshore and is visible to locals, residents and visitors every day. It is evidence of the waste-legacy of many generations.

The proposed plan to tackle Cayman’s ever-growing landfill site is to create a comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) as a public-private partnership. It will include a new landfill that will be properly lined, and all incinerated waste will be disposed of correctly in the small, controlled site. Government is hoping that this will be a final successful attempt at 'fixing the dump', which has been promised for decades. Operations will be split between the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) and a private consortium of companies, led by DART Enterprises. Together they will take over responsibility for the treatment of all waste management at a new site adjacent to the George Town landfill for the next 25 years. Once completed, the project will not only turn the George Town landfill site into a remediated green space, it will also see the construction of a new waste management facility located in a 34 acre area immediately south-west of the landfill, which will manage all recyclable and non-recyclable waste for Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

Project ReGen As of March 2021, work on the Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS, rebranded as ‘Project ReGen’) began. ReGen is projected to take three and a half years to complete. Works on the new ISWMS will be constructed between 20222024. The ReGen project hopes to create a long-term, sustainable waste management solution with improved recycling, including the repurposing of materials that aren't recycled into electricity, and the promotion of movement up the 'waste hierarchy'. At an expected cost of just over CI$200 million, subsidised by DART, it is expected that nine newly created integrated facilities will have the capacity to divert up to 95% of waste from the landfill, in alignment to the National Solid Waste Management Strategy (2016).

The electricity generated will be sold to the Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC), and it is estimated that this will contribute approximately 7.6 megawatts (MW) to the local grid. This translates to approximately 8% of the country’s electricity needs. At the facility’s recycling area there will be bays to collect and bale various recyclables, such as

number 1 and 2 plastics. The facility will also provide composting areas on all three Islands for horticulture/yard waste, and there will be a reuse centre where people can deposit functional (but unwanted) goods and furniture. There is also an educational aspect to the project: a significant amount of work needs to be done to educate the public so that current habits are changed, and more environmentally-friendly recycling practices are encouraged across the three Islands. Until then, the landfill will continue to expand laterally after the height capacity has been reached, with hopes of closing following the design, construction and commissioning of a fully up-and-running sustainable waste management system.

SUSTAINABLE EATING

A significant factor of sustainable living includes making the right choices when it comes to food. In Cayman, much of our food is imported, and a considerable amount of energy, fuel and water is used in the entire process of growing, distributing, storing and cooking our food. Although choosing local produce is a great way to offset this energy from being used, in Cayman we do not always have the option to do that. Consciously eliminating food waste, however, can have the same desired effect of indirectly slowing down global warming and deforestation.

Saving food also saves money, and by reducing the amount of food that you throw away, you are also reducing packaging waste that will end up in the landfill. There are several ways to reduce food waste: > Check your pantry and fridge before you do your grocery shopping so you know what food you already have. > Meal prepping is a great way to eliminate waste. > Learn how to store your food properly as this can help it stay fresh for longer. > If you can’t use it right now, freeze it for later! Choose Local While it is unlikely that Cayman will ever stop relying on imported food, the local agribusiness is flourishing. A wide variety of fresh produce can be bought at the Hamlin Stephenson Market at the Cricket Grounds next to the cricket pitch in George Town (Monday–Saturdays from 7.30am–6pm)

and from the Camana Bay Farmers Market on Wednesdays. During high season the market, located on the Paseo, offers farm produce and locally created artisanal goods and runs from 10am until 7pm. In summer, the town’s harvest market is located under the solar array across from Jessie’s Juice Bar, offers farm-fresh goods from 10am to 4pm.

Also, Cayman Farm & Garden (Patrick Panton) sells a variety of fresh fruit, leafy greens, vegetables, fresh chicken, eggs and seafood from his farm in Bodden Town. He is always at the Farmer's Market on Saturdays but he also has a thriving business doing home deliveries. He can also be found at the Camana Bay Farmers Market. Email: patrick.caymanfarmandgarden@gmail. com and ask to be put on his mailing list, then when you are ready to order you email him on orders.caymanfarmandgarden@ gmail.com. You can also call him on (345) 526 4231 or visit www.facebook. com/caymanfarmandgarden for more information. Bluff Farms, located in Cayman Brac, provides the finest pedigree goat breeds, raised outdoors in the most ideal environment on the Bluff. Their lean and fresh meat is readily available to purchase at an affordable price at the farm in Cayman Brac and in Grand Cayman, for delivery/in-store pick up at 209 Cannon Place. Email: sales@blufffarms.com or call (345) 926 3665. Refer to the Food & Drink chapter for more information on locally produced goods.

Grow Your Own Following the success of the green iguana cull, gardens Island-wide are flourishing as they are no longer losing flowers and foliage to these pests. There is a whole range of fruit and vegetables you can grow including tomatoes, leafy greens, herbs, eggplants, melons, bananas, mangoes and much more. The ideal growing season is November–April when it’s cooler and drier, however, you will need to water the plants regularly and look out for pests. You can pick up seeds or baby plants from any of the local nurseries, plus soil, organic pesticides and gardening tools. See the Shopping chapter for a list of garden centres.

Shopping Green When grocery shopping, make sure to buy the products with the least packaging, choose glass or other alternatives to plastic, and take canvas bags instead of paying 5¢ for a plastic bag. Alternatively, shop at Hurley’s where they have ditched single-use plastic bags altogether after discovering they were distributing 800,000 a year. They now offer reusable, recyclable and biodegradable paper bags in their place.

Most of the supermarkets sell organic food and some, like Kirk Market and Foster’s sell a wide selection of both locally grown and imported organic produce, as well as organic meats, frozen food, gluten-free and luxury food.

On the drink-front, Flowers Bottled Water (SEE AD PAGE 140) produces delicious, filtered, chlorine-free water that they sell in large 5-gallon bottles which you can buy in most petrol stations or have delivered directly to your home or office. You can further reduce your plastic pollution by installing a Koola bottle-less water cooler. It acts like a mini water purification plant, connecting to your building’s water supply and filtering out chlorine, lead, phosphates and bacteria.

For those who like to drink beer, White Tip Lager is a joint venture with the Department of Environment and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation with a portion of the profits being donated to shark conservation work in Cayman’s waters. Another local brewery, 19-81 Brewing Co., produces three quality craft beers as well as other limited-edition beers produced in collaboration with local farmers. For more information see the Local and Specialty Beer section in our Food & Drink chapter.