DEH begins latest bid to get rid of dump tyres

Burning tyres and the George Town dump

(CNS): Government is beginning its fifth attempt to get rid of the massive pile of discarded tyres at the George Town landfill and lesser amounts on the Brac and Little Cayman with a new tender. This time, not only is government not looking for any cash for the tyres but has also stated that it may be willing to pay a nominal fee to finally see the back of the tyre mountain.

The Department of Environmental Health is inviting bids from qualified firms for the prompt processing, either at the dump locations or off-site at an approved local facility, and the removal of all the used tyres that have accumulated at the Grand Cayman landfill. Some are whole and unprocessed while others are semi-processed and shredded, and there are tyres with and without wheel rims.

In a release about the latest tender, the DEH said that government may consider paying a nominal fee for removal. Some tyres, most of which are located at the Grand Cayman dump, may require special technical capabilities to cut, transport and remove from the sites, officials said.

One of the worst fires at the landfill in recent times was ignited among the growing pile of tyres that the government has struggled to dispose of (see photo).

Although a local developer has offered to take the tyres to use as fill for a planned Arnold Palmer golf course in South Sound, that project still appears a long way from commencing. Investors behind the proposed Ironwood project continue to offer to take the tyres but they have not submitted a bid during any of the previous tender rounds. They have also said they would not remove the tyres from the dump until they needed them for the course, which could still be some time away from construction. Government and the developers are still in talks regarding the public-private partnership over the construction of the east-west arterial extension.

The DEH is looking for a tenderer who can process and remove the tyres as quickly as possible. However, officials said companies or individual tenderers must comply with all applicable local laws, including business registrations, health, pensions and any other regulations.

Read more about submitting a tender on the CNS Notice Board.