environmental health
Impetus lost on plastic ban, recyling and reuse policies
(CNS): The political will to promote more reduction in the waste produced in the Cayman Islands, expand recycling, reuse or repurposing of materials and a ban on single-use plastic appears to have been lost over the last four years, as government officials admitted Friday that things had gone wrong or policies had never been pursued. […]
Dart not allowed to import rubbish
(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin gave an emphatic “no” when asked by CNS following last week’s press briefing if Dart would be allowed to import additional rubbish to burn in the waste-to-energy facility it has now been given the green light to build. Following the announcement that a deal has finally been signed with the preferred […]
Over 3 tons of plastic picked off local beaches this year
(CNS): In less than three months, Plastic Free Cayman has removed more than 7,350 pounds, or around 3.7 tons, of debris from beaches around the Cayman Islands, most of it plastic. This means that despite their efforts to raise awareness, plastic pollution is getting worse, and the activists said the next government must implement the […]
Fire crews douse dump blaze but kit on standby
(CNS): Firefighters have now extinguished the blaze that ignited Thursday in the scrap metal area of the George Town landfill, officials said Monday. But even after Cayman Islands Fire Service operations were shut down at 10pm on Sunday evening, equipment was strategically placed onsite to ensure a quick response if there is a flare-up of […]
Gov’t finally signs dump deal with Dart
(CNS): Less than three weeks before Caymanians go to the polls and four years after Dart was picked as the preferred bidder, a last minute deal has been signed between the islands’ largest developer and the government over the dump. At a press briefing Friday, the outgoing premier, Alden McLaughlin; Dwayne Seymour, the minster responsible […]
Fire crews work on deep-seated fires amid scrap metal
(CNS): Fire-fighters were still on site at the dump Friday morning after a night-long battle to control and contain the blaze in the scrap metal section that ignited yesterday morning. Teams were still excavating and extinguishing deep-seated fires, but officials said the situation was much-improved. Cayman Islands Fire Service crews worked tirelessly alongside the Department […]
Crews facing hazardous blaze at dump, says chief
(CNS): A combination of windy conditions and the nature of the mixed-waste materials at the scrap metal area of the landfill contributed to the hazardous blaze that fire crews faced when they arrived on scene this morning, Chief Fire Officer Paul Walker said at a last minute lunchtime briefing at GIS. The CFO said it […]
Gridlock on roads as dump fire rages
(CNS) UPDATED 12:30pm: The West Bay Road was at a standstill Thursday lunchtime, as southbound traffic on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway was diverted. Thick plumes of smoke continued billowing from the fire, where fire crews are trying to tackle the blaze from four points of attack using defensive firefighting tactics and safe systems of work. Officials […]
Hundreds of shoes cleared from Little Cayman beaches
(CNS): Volunteers collected hundreds of shoes from several beaches on Little Cayman and Owen Island this weekend during the latest Plastic Free Cayman clean-up event. More than 3,000lbs of garbage was cleared from three beaches by the 30 volunteers, and most of what they picked up was plastic, especially plastic slippers. The NGO, which is […]
Battery causes another small fire at dump
(CNS): Another small fire at the George Town dump last week was caused by a phone battery, officials said. Fortunately, this time the smoldering battery was spotted by the Department of Environmental Health team, who managed to put the fire out before it became a dangerous blaze. Officials said that this is the third incident […]
Beach medical waste subject of investigation
(CNS) With an increase in blood and other medical waste turning up on local beaches, officials have finally begun a formal inquiry into where this is coming from. For months now, Plastic Free Cayman and other volunteers who regularly clean local beaches have been warning of an increase in vials of blood among the tonnes […]
