The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) has joined forces with the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) to highlight the dangers associated with dumping illegal waste. The move comes after the agencies carried out a number of operations to clean up illegally dumped material.
Over the last few weeks, Neighbourhood Police Officers have noticed an increase in the amount of garbage being dumped and residents have complained of bad smells and rotting garbage. Waste has so far been removed from a number of areas including Rock Hole, School House Road and Bodden Road.
Head of Neighbourhood Policing, Inspector Tricia Bodden said: “The mess and subsequent neighbourhood decline resulting from illegal dumping of waste leads to an increase in the fear of crime and a reduction in the quality of life for those who are affected. In addition, illegal dumping is unsightly and promotes the spread of flies, which are known to spread diseases.”
PC Bodden says the RCIPS is committed to making the Cayman Islands as safe as they can be and this includes making sure people are happy in their surroundings. “We will continue to work with the Department of Environmental Health to tackle this issue but residents really need to do their bit by being more responsible and considerate,” she concluded.
In the United Kingdom the practice, known as fly-tipping, is a major environmental problem.
An official website points out that uncontrolled disposal of waste is hazardous to the general public, in particular when the rubbish contains items such as asbestos or containers of toxic materials such as oil drums and old car batteries. The waste can cause damage to the environment by entering water sources and contaminating underlying soil.
Some items being illegally dumped, particularly old refrigerators, are hazardous to young children who regard them as something to play in without realising the potential dangers.
It is also mentioned that cleaning up fly-tipping is expensive and wastes a lot of public money which could be better spent elsewhere.
Local residents are now being urged to report anyone seen blatantly flouting the law and dumping waste in their community to the police or the DEH. Public Education and Promotions Officer for the DEH, Tania Johnson, said it is vital that information about people who are conducting illegal dumping is reported to the DEH so that action can be taken to address the problem. “Once the public can identify persons who are illegally dumping garbage in their area, DEH district officers can respond to get the guilty party to clean it up and/or prosecute them,” she said.
Under the 1997 Litter Law, it is an offence to drop litter and dump waste punishable with a CI$500 fine or a prison term of up to six months.
The public can contact the DEH to make a complaint at 949-6696 or the police on 949-4222.
