Re-cycling programme down but people can help

Recycling Programme Foreman Angello Roye stands
before several palettes of used batteries

Tuesday,  September 20, 2005

In the wake of the establishment of the local volunteer group, Recycle Cayman by local activist Jenny Nikolov, the Department of Environmental Health has said that although its equipment is still not fully operational there are still things residents can do in preparation for the return of the full programme.

“DEH is working to reinstate office paper recycling over the next couple of months,” said Chief Environmental Health Officer Roydell Carter. He added that residents could still collect and store paper in preparation for when the equipment is repaired.

Individuals can also continue to collect soda cans and deliver them to the landfill or place in one of the community bins located at supermarkets across the Island. Large containers with a DEH sticker on the side will be located at Hurley’s Supermarket at Grand Harbour, Foster’s Food Fair airport location, and Kirk Supermarket on Eastern Avenue. The public is kindly asked to place only aluminium cans including empty sodas, beers and other aluminium product in these bins.

Recycling has been severely affected by Ivan, Mr Carter explained:

“When the George Town landfill was flooded with sea water during Ivan our recycling area including a storage shed and equipment was damaged,” he said.

“However, since the storm we have successfully reinstated our used oil and lead acid batteries recycling initiatives. To date since January 2005 we have shipped over 30,500 gallons of used oil and more than 4,000 marine and automobile batteries to recyclers in the US.”

He explained that the department was waiting on repairs to buildings as well as for parts for some of the machinery.

“We are awaiting repairs to the roof of a storage shed and for parts for the baler and shredding equipment before we can resume full operation,” he said.

“We’re asking the public to be patient with us until the programmes are operational again.

“DEH is committed to reinstating the recycling programmes on the Island and we are interested in introducing new recycling initiatives as our facilities become functional.”

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