Public to get their say on Dart dump project

| 26/05/2021 | 58 Comments
Cayman News Service
George Town landfill (Photo courtesy CIFS)

(CNS): As Dart gets down to work on tackling Cayman’s waste-management problem after signing a deal with the previous government just weeks before the election, the islands’ largest landowner and government officials will hold three public meetings next month, according to a government advertisement in local print news. The meetings are steps towards the environmental impact assessment (EIA) the company must undertake before it embarks on the waste-to-energy facility, which is the major component of this project, as well as the closure of the existing dump, a new lined residual landfill and recycling plants. The EIA will examine the environmental consequences and requires public input.

This ReGen project, as it has now been named by Dart, will feature nine integrated waste management facilities designed to work together to reduce the amount of waste being dumped here by up to 95%, according to Dart.

“The environmental impact assessment will help ensure that final design details for the new facilities are fully informed, while providing an opportunity for all stakeholders, including the wider community, to participate in the process,” Dart Engineering Coordinator Martin Edelenbos said in an article on Dart’s website. “The facilities will include an energy recovery facility, a material recovery facility, a green waste mulching or composting facility, a construction and demolition waste facility, and a household waste recycling centre.”

The terms of reference (ToR) drawn up by the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) form the basis for the three-week consultation process that begins this week. The document is available to view at various government buildings and will shortly be posted on the Department of Environment’s website. The final terms of reference will guide the studies that will underpin the environmental statement, which will also be part of a public public consultation before being finalised. The EAB will prepare a final recommendation to Cabinet about the impact of the project on the community as a whole.

This first consultation will include public meetings where people can question Dart officials, the consultants and government’s technical experts as well as comment on this major infrastructure project.

Even though the EIA process is only just beginning, elements of this project have already started that are not subject to this part of the EIA.

Because negotiations on the final deal signed in March took more than two years, government had agreed to allow Dart to begin the work on capping the existing landfill. That process started more than a year ago, and since then the Department of Environmental Health has been dumping garbage in a much more reduced area while work goes on to cover up the rest of the huge mountain of rubbish known as Mount Trashmore.

The capping of the garbage pile and Dart’s plans to turn it into a grassy hill will be monitored seperately to ensure that the remediation addresses environmental concerns about the garbage that will continue to decompose and breakdown under the grass. This process is supposed to reduce leaching, block pests, reduce the risk of fire, eliminate the dump smell and reduce carbon emissions.

The three public meetings where the details of the project will be presented will take place on 8 June at the John Gray Memorial Hall, on 9 June at the Harquail Theatre, and at the Breakers Civic Centre on 10 June. All three meetings begin at 7pm.

The period for the public to submit comments on the TORs begins on 31 May and runs until 21 June, according to the EAB’s paid-for ad in print news. No corresponding press release or notice board item has yet been issued by any government entity.

More information on the environmental impact assessment process and the public meeting dates are expected to be posted on the DoE website and the ReGen website shortly.


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Category: Environmental Health, Health

Comments (58)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Yes the meeting will be interesting. people turning up drinking coffee from plastc / foam/ styrofoam cups, eating food off the same styrofoam. Yes, the Goverbnement and previous administrations are at fault for ignoring the elephant in the room. However we also need to play our part in the next few years in the choices we make to reduce our carbon footprint.

    • Anonymous says:

      CUC is our largest carbon footprint contributor next to all combustion engine vehicle drivers. However the status quo is not about to change with all the powerful and influential people who hold CUC shares and with OfReg protecting the institution. Renewable energy targets are currently unattainable and will require OfReg to bring in more pwned consultants to tell them projects are not feasible.

      • Anonymous says:

        Our diet, with many related contributing industries and impacts, secured by heavy-handed political protections and free passes, is worse than all the petroleum-based combustion contributions put together. Of course, both are bad (and more), but the larger issue still remains a taboo theme, despite the pressing urgency of honest and open discussion.

        • Anonymous says:

          When I eat beans or hummus, I fart. A lot. That can’t be good for the environment. The only solution is for me to eat no beans and more meat.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Still how many years of open dumping during construction?

  3. BracFan says:

    I take it the Sister Island landfills are not affected by this project. Correct?

    • Anonymous says:

      Incorrect

      • BracFan says:

        But nothing definite is planned. Yes, the ReGen website FAQ does address the sister island landfills. But the answer merely says “options are being explored to cap and remediate the sister islands landfills.” Not very reassuring.

        If it’s not cost-efficient for ReGen to cap and remediate the sister island landfills, and transport sister island trash/waste/hazmat to Cayman, I doubt ReGen will do it. Am I missing something?

  4. Anonymous says:

    I bet Dart didn’t bank on spending an extra $0.5B on remediation and waste management when he bought the lands next to the dump. This is probably his last gasp, if this doesn’t work and his adjacent property plans don’t materialise I can see him bailing.
    And this quite ambitious and daunting solution has been decided upon at a very unfortunate time as we are now entering dangerous times. There is an expected uptick in tropical storm activity most likely for rest of this already scary solar cycle. I guess if it all gets blown away they can start from scratch.

    • Anonymous says:

      Hahahahahaha What a blowhard.

      Do you really think that is scaring anyone?

      Do you not understand that there is NO end to his pocket?

      Oh. You must be new here.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Going forward and no air quality regs to speak of? Sounds like a plan to choke whoever’s down wind of this. I highly doubt in four years DoEH will adopt any regulations and least of all like California’s. If any meaningful emissions regs are set let’s see who will enforce penalties. These meetings should be entertaining and most likely a $hit show just like the ones for the waste facility in Bodden Town. Surprised Dart isn’t selling VIP tickets.

  6. Anonymous says:

    OMG Who the eF cares??
    It is 35+ years too late as it is.

    Get over yourself.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Im not an expert but it was my understanding that capping only works if the garbage is not in the water table because if it is it will continue to leach out and the sound is only a short distance away.

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly right. That thing was NEVER lined and has been leaching into the North Sound not long after inception.
      I have been going on about the leaching to whoever will listen.

      If you haven’t noticed the change in the water color, clarity and even the temperature of the North Sound over just the past 5 years, then you are just another head in the sand Caymanian (WITH blinders!).

      • Anonymous says:

        Temperature also affected by CUC’s engine cooling water outfall. Are DoE still monitoring this? I also wonder if the leachate from the dump is affecting coral on the North Sound barrier reefs?

    • Anonymous says:

      The last testing done of the aread around the landfill ( a few years ago) did not show any significant levels of leached chemicals as I recall. Including in the N Sound. I am sure these reports are available.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Has anyone Googled Martin Edelenbos and seen the Keele Valley landfill-related hits?

    CNS: There are (at least) two men with the same name. The Dart Martin Edelenbos and the Martin Edelenbos currently serving 25 years without parole for murder, convicted in 2000. It’s important not to muddle them when googling. Murderer Martin was a truck operator at the Keele Valley landfill, Dart Martin is a solid waste engineer.

  9. SSM345 says:

    Caribbean’s first dry ski slope.

    • Anonymous says:

      That was in the compass 10 years ago.

      • SSM345 says:

        That was around the time this project was supposed to be in full flight but Jon-Jon managed to convince all his constituents that they didn’t want no dump in BT and it was promptly halted correct?

        Thanks for the reminder.

  10. Anonymous says:

    “…to reduce the amount of waste being dumped here by up to 95%, according to Dart.”

    AHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
    LMAO
    LOL

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually according to their fall guy Edelenbos. At least one thing is true, you can say that Dart recycles former solid waste managers from DEH.

      • Anonymous says:

        The ignorants at DEH have drive. Away their fair share of highly educated and experienced waste engineers over the years, hence the mess they have created and are in.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Just call it a bluff.

  12. Anonymous says:

    yawn…forget the talk-shops…just get on with it.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Make Lakeside great again!

  14. Anonymous says:

    They need to move the dump away from major populations on this Island. Burning poisonous garbage next door to literally thousands of people is insane. There will be no proper oversight etc and poisonous fumes will go into the air and all the surroundings areas. It’s great Dart will be building a cancer clinic right there as well. No coincidence.

    • Anonymous says:

      What difference does it make – between the chem trails, 5G and the vaccinations, you idiots don’t have long to live anyway. You’d better get off this flat earth stat!

    • Anonymous says:

      👍👍🏻👍🏼👍🏽👍🏾👍🏿
      Absolutely!

    • Anonymous says:

      The location was chosen by Government. The RFP of that time stipulated the location was FIXED at the current site.

      Government Policy Decision to keep it in the current location.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Well now is your chance, Cayman!

    You want to be heard? Better make this meeting a life priority! Put it in your calendars.

  16. Anonymous says:

    The PPM Unity Government put this project in place and got the ball rolling at long last. I hope that the PACT Government at least gives them credit

    • Anonymous says:

      Wasn’t it the Government before the PPM? The PPM deserve no credit whatsoever – they didn’t do anything to move this forward.

      • Anonymous says:

        Duh.. the PPM was in Government since 2013 and yes they did start this project. They also got the new airport and runways built, along with needed roadworks, started the mental health facility; finished the Gymnasium and the new John Grey school will be opened this year. They supported and created the environment for private sector to help in rebuilding the economy, halved Caymanian unemployment up till Covid hit. All while paying down debt and building reserves for a rainy day. And no new taxes, working from cash. And yes their policies helped keep us safe from Covid and put us in the good position we are in. Two terms of very successful PPM led Government. Facts are facts.

    • SSM345 says:

      Giving credit to one side when both have been involved with doing absolute F’all for the last 30yrs.

      Yeah, everyone take a bow.

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