CIG crawls toward dump solution
George Town dump, a.k.a. Mount Trashmore
(CNS): The government will begin a public consultation process Monday on the draft National Solid Waste Management Strategy, which was presented to the Legislative Assembly by the premier on Friday. Alden McLaughlin, who is also the minister for environmental health, said the strategy contains future waste management options that will be considered to develop an integrated solid waste management system for the Cayman Islands. The next phase calls for the development of the Outline Business Case, which he said would guide the final decision about how to deal with the growing landfill and reduce the amount of waste we produce.
The premier described this as an important milestone and said his government was making progress towards a solution as it followed the required process
“As I have said before, the process may appear slow but it is sure,” the premier told the LA, admitting it had taken a while to get to this point. “I am equally confident that the progress will continue steady and sure and that we will provide the country with a waste management system that is second-to-none, which will serve our needs far into the future.”
He said the tabling of the draft strategy was “further evidence that this is a progressive government that gets things done.”
However, the state of the dump is currently a fire hazard, an eyesore and an environmental threat, but Cayman has made few strides so far in organized waste reuse, despite several announcements by the premier over the last year. On a number of occasions, he has stated that plans were underway for organized composting and recycling to begin ahead of the implementation of a full solid waste management solution.
On Friday he pointed to an awareness campaign to reduce the amount of waste the country generates and the introduction of reuse programmes in the draft strategy.
“It also identifies important steps and actions that will be taken to deliver the system and in so doing, address the current unsatisfactory landfill situation. These actions will be targeted to improve the sustainability of all waste management practices, make increased use of waste as a resource, and ensure the protection of the environment,” he added.
The premier said options included recycling depots, the treatment of the residual waste, waste reduction, increased reuse, the recovery of energy from residual waste and substantially reduced dependence on increasingly expensive and unsustainable landfills. He also said the principle of ‘the polluter pays’ was in the strategy.
Answering questions from Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush, he confirmed that government policy was to retain the current landfill site and deal with the dump where it is. He said the various new elements of waste-management would be dealt with at the site where possible and consideration was being given to acquiring more land near to the George Town landfill. The possibility, however, of some elements, such as composition or recycling — what the premier described as the less objectionable elements of the process — may be sited on other government land.
McLaughlin added that public meetings on the strategy would begin during the week of 16 November to get feedback before the it was finalised. He said he looked forward to receiving comments and suggestions from the members of this House and the public.
Check back to CNS for a copy of the draft strategy, which will be made public Monday.
Premier’s statement to LA on National Solid Waste Management Strategy, 23 october 2015
Category: Local News
If the state of the dump is truly a fire hazard and an environmental threat, an adequate solution should definitely be taken! I am amazed sometimes how such serious problems are being overlooked. We live in times that our own waste is starting to cause incredible environmental issues!
Like Cheese Face, da-wa-u-get, @ 11:44am, 12:29pm and others have said, one does not have to be a rocket scientist to see things as they truly are…
On this subject matter of the Dump, Dart has already demonstrated their dedication to providing sustainable waste solutions and recycling services. I am no expert but I can bet my bottle of pure drinking water and insect repellant that sorting and composting of disposed waste and waste-to-energy would be a part of Dart’s plan. Please note that Dart is a Company made up of various enterprises and professionals, who are at best qualified and well experienced in their respective fields – many of whom are ‘young’ Caymanians! Does ‘Dart’, the Beneficial Owner of the Company stand to gain from undertaking such a project? Naturally, any Proprietor seeks to gain and make a profit but there are those who quickly assume that Dart always has an ulterior motive…that he wants to ‘take over’ our Island. Shall we then overlook Dart’s many, and ongoing projects from which our Islands have benefited? Come on please, let us for the sake of PROGRESS, try to move away from the negative, small-minded and destructive thought processes.
An interesting fact and something for us/CIG to consider: Due to Sweden’s innovative waste-to-energy program and highly efficient recycling habits, the Scandinavian nation faces an interesting dilemma. They have run out of trash. Aside from the economic benefit, Sweden’s system of sustainability clearly has vast environmental benefits. Aside from traditional recycling programs, their waste-to-energy system ensures minimal environmental impact from the country’s waste.
So dare I ask that, if such a waste management system can work for Sweden, that our Cayman Islands (Yes, all three of them; by sending their garbage over to GCM to be disposed of) could also benefit from a similar program? Although, this idea would cause trepidation for the ‘take over’ folks, not to mention the beginning of yet another very sensitive topic of discussion – alternative/ cheaper source of electricity!
Ultimately, any person or community that takes a stand to protect the ailing environment is taking a stand for you. They are standing up for all future generations that will inherit this planet. How will you take your stand?
@1:48pm If this had been handed to Dart ,you would be the first to say ‘job well done’,but because someone else might make a few dollars ,you make is sound like something evil. Hypocrite.
Everyone knows the dump put the PPM into power by winning the Boddentown MLAs and as such they made the deal to not move the dump which limits their options to the point of inaction. Politics as usual and tribal conflict of interest.
Alden once again confuses talking abiut getting things done with actually getting things done.
Don’t worry @7:24am at the next election you will get a chance to put Mac back in charge,the same one who refuses to follow process and rush in blindly. Alden is in power now because the majority of voters wanted process to be followed.Please be patient.
alden/ppm fell into power because the the udp distingrated and were totally inept….
ppm have done nothing of note since being in power…..
The CIG cares about money. Not garbage. Or their people.
CIG only has two speeds. Really really slow and backwards.
mount thrashmore….a monument to caymanian political failure and incompetence…..
Just more bs delaying tactics.
Don’t need more time wasting consultation. Just get on with it!
Are you as eager to pay more in fees to get it done ,or do you believe Government has an endless supply of money?
Get on with what??? Here we go again let’s build a house without the plans …. hmmm only CNS posters would promote that nonsense.
Reading on this topic in conjunction with the latest Hurricane (thankfully not heading our way) gives me pause to consider a situation if a strong storm should impact Cayman in such a way that it would transport the contents of the Dump into Eastern Avenue and GT!! Can you imagine the public health issues we’d be dealing? I am quite certain that we would wish to have ACTED sooner!
We’ve been talking a long time, we’ve been lucky a long time! It’s time to act!
ppm….the folks that turned down a free solution to caymans biggest environmental issue……
all for the sake a few votes from bodden town…..
Moving the mountain of trash to somewhere else, then depending on government to “finish” the facility was not a solution, but another disaster in a few years.
I would be willing to wager not a single truck load of trash would be “Moving” “Moved” or otherwise relocated.
The GT landfill must be closed. It is a decade past its best before date. We need a new facility.
The solution was there, but fools like you convinced the voters of Boddentown that there would be a convoy of trucks barreling through town moving the pile.
Well said.
What the hell do you need public consultation for? There has been successive political parties, consultants and waste management companies involved in this fiasco for years now and the mess is still still there.. What good is it asking the public…if they knew how to fix they would have do it by now! Just give someone the project..please.
“As I have said before, the process may appear slow but it is sure,” says the premier. I agree 100% with the part, “the process may appear slow”! When are you going to DO something, Honourable Sir? Quit wasting your time and our money on that stupid dock and give us a working garbage disposal system!
I find it quite amusing that there are sound bites and press reports springing out from LA type people all over the news. It is almost as if an alarm clock has gone off and they have to get up from doing Jack s..t for years and suddenly make it look like they are doing something.
What happened within that void of time? What was achieved and what value did they bring?
Just let Dart deal with it you bunch of Muppets!
Another $$$$$$$$$ Dart deal? I hope not. He is slowly taking over the Cayman Islands. But then…… he might do better than CIG, and I don’t think he would use his government credit card to gamble!!!
Yeah, slowly taking over building decent roads and infrastructure, slowly building nice places to eat, work and shop, slowly building public parks. Damn him and his slowly taking over!
You forgot about him employing lots of Caymanians 12.33, so yeh, double damn him. How dare he go against the imagined grain here…
“…and sure and that we will provide the country with a waste management system that is second-to-none…”
I don’t want a Rolls Royce or Ferrari of a waste management facility. I want one that is economical, safe, and not some money wasting monument to project-punch drunk politicians. Good lord, we are 60000 people tops.
I’m so proud of the process being followed. No pie in sky solutions. …no cancellation of contracts …. The Government maybe crawling but those that eventually walks and runs . Stay the course.
Airport redevelopment. Tick
Dock solution on the way. Tick
Landfill solutions. Tick
Wow
you joking?…..nothing has been on any of these issues……and nothing will be done before the next election
Give me some of what you’re smoking.
A classic PPM Kool Aid drinking zombie typing away in complete denial
Lots of ticks would suggest a nervous disorder or the need for improved hygene.
They don’t have a solution, they never had a solution and they never will have a solution. Open the Bodden Town facility already!
What facility? you mean the lined piece of land dart was giving CIG, and it was the task of CIG to build the actual facility?
I Wonder if that’s how the current dump started?
Task of CIG to build AND PAY for this facility. But these blind fools still think Dart was offering the whole job lot gift-wrapped. SMH
More reports and jobs for friends