Topic: Department of Environmental Health
Cayman’s ‘Wombles’ helping to keep its roads and beaches clean
With government legislation promising to tackle litter, will Cayman's beach and roadside litter problem finally be solved?
Multi-agency response launched as bird flu detected in Cayman
Local birds in Grand Cayman have tested positive for avian influenza, prompting a multi-agency response led by Hazard Management Cayman Islands.
Early holiday closure and limited operations at George Town landfill
The George Town landfill will close at 1pm on Monday because of the Discovery Day public holiday, the Department of Environmental Health has stated in a press release.
Large cash settlement considered for family of missing landfill worker Anna Evans
Government appears ready to agree a financial settlement with the family of missing landfill worker Anna Evans.
Record number of discarded tyres at landfills posing fire risk
More than 10 million pounds of discarded tyres are sitting in landfills on all three islands, posing a significant fire risk, according to Department of Environmental Health Director Richard Simms.
Cayman Brac landfill gets new incinerator
After four years of "landfilling" biohazardous materials the Department of Environmental Health on Cayman Brac can now safely dispose of such materials following the commissioning of a new CI $77,000 incinerator at the dump.
Clean-up under way following nor’wester damage
Crews from the National Roads Authority and the Department of Environmental Health spent the greater part of Wednesday cleaning up areas in George Town and West Bay impacted by this week's strong nor'wester.
Christmas bulk waste collections end
The Department of Environmental Health has completed its two-week winter bulk waste collections across all three islands.
DEH issues illegal dumping warning as bulk waste piles appear
The Department of Environmental Health is warning people not to dump bulk waste items in public spaces as this practice is illegal.
Kirk Office urges customers to use its recycling service
Kirk Office officials have expressed disappointment over the illegal dumping of office equipment recently discovered in George Town saying that a free recycling facility is open to customers seeking to replace old machines.
Double-stacking vaults saves space in Cayman’s cemeteries
The double stacking of vaults in cemeteries across the Cayman Islands has begun in a bid to increase their capacity, as several reach the limit of available grave space.
Communities fight back against littering menace
A landmark sentence recently handed down by a Cayman Islands court could signal a sea change in ongoing efforts to keep litter at bay.
As dump woes mount, landfill gets new garbage compactor
Garbage compaction at the George Town landfill is set to resume now that the Department of Environmental Health has acquired a $730,000 compactor.
DEH: Don’t dump your Christmas tree, let us shred it
The Department of Environmental Health is inviting the public to deposit their natural Christmas trees at drop-off points around Grand Cayman from early in the new year.
Weekend landfill fire extinguished
A three-day fire at the George Town landfill has been extinguished by the Cayman Islands Fire Service, according to the Department of Environmental Health.
Dumping continuing after bulk waste collections end
Garbage collectors have had to return five times to the same site in West Bay to remove household items and other large pieces of rubbish that has been dumped by the roadside, more than a month after the Department of Environment Health finished its seasonal bulk waste collection in the district.
Police seeking illegal dumper
Police have launched an investigation into a report of illegal dumping in the Newlands area by an individual driving a white Nissan pickup truck.
Public outcry as glass recycling suspended
As the world's leaders gather at COP27 to address climate change, environmental efforts closer to home took a step backwards on Monday.
Bulk waste collection begins next month
The Department of Environmental Health has announced the schedule for this year’s bulk waste collection for Grand Cayman.
17.5 tons of Brac recyclables shipped to George Town landfill
More than 17 and a half tons of aluminium cans, plastic containers, batteries and tyres from Cayman Brac, which arrived on two 40-foot containers, have been deposited at the George Town Landfill, ready to be shipped off island for recycling.
DEH monitoring fires as it purchases new compactor
The Department of Environmental Health is looking to acquire a new compactor for the George Town Landfill, after engine problems rendered its half-a-million-dollar unit out of service.
DEH Food Hygiene Training resumes
Training courses for personnel in the food industry offered by the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has been resumed from 18 May, 2022.
Bonfire applications to be addressed to Public Lands Commission
The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is reminding campers that all applications for bonfires permits are to be submitted to the Public Lands Commissions (PLC) for consideration.
DEH to coordinate acceptance of large vegetation waste
Companies or individuals engaged in the transportation of large amounts of vegetation waste such as resulting from land clearance or forestry activities are encouraged to contact the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) to coordinate the acceptance of the material to the George Town landfill.
Thousands of tons of scrap metal shipped off to US
More than 12,000 tons of scrap metal have been shipped from Cayman since April 2019 as officials at the Department of Environmental Health look to clear a backlog of 'legacy waste'.
At least 427 tons of debris collected in wake of TS Grace
18 Oct. marks exactly two months since Tropical Storm Grace lashed Grand Cayman with near hurricane strength winds and rains for several hours. Since then, the island has launched mass clean-up efforts to dispose of the jurisdiction's destroyed vegetation.
Free mulch now available at Bodden Town
The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) would like to inform residents that “free mulch” is now available for collection at the Bodden Town Temporary Site from as early as 7:00 a.m.
Mulch available at Prospect again
The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is inviting residents to collect additional “free mulch” available at the Prospect Temporary Site from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 2, 2021.
New closing dates for DEH Temporary Sites
The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is advising residents of a change of policy regarding the closing dates of the temporary sites at Bodden Town, East End and North Side.
DEH Vegetation Collection on West Bay ends on Saturday
The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is reminding West Bay residents that the schedule for the collection of vegetation debris in that area will be completed on Saturday 4th September, 2021 and it will not be extended.
DEH issues Lunchbox Tips
As kids head back to school, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is advising parents and guardians to follow some recommendations while safely preparing and packaging lunch boxes.
Graves exhumed to make way for road expansion
Three graves in a small private cemetery beside Shamrock Road were exhumed on Sunday to make way for the widening of the road.
The remains...
Scrap-metal landfill fire extinguished
Last week’s scrap-metal fire at the George Town landfill has been fully extinguished, and the Cayman Islands Fire Service says there is now “minimum chance of re-ignition”.
DEH removes over 300 tons of bulk waste
The Department of Environmental Health has cleared 333 tons of waste so far as part of its annual bulk waste removal campaign.
Litter Law charges considered in mangrove concrete dumping
National Concrete has been warned by the Department of Environmental Health that it may face prosecution under the Litter Law, after a company truck was photographed Monday discharging excess concrete into a Red Bay mangrove.
Landfill pre-construction work set, but negotiations continue
Pre-construction work is set to begin on government’s long-awaited waste management plan, but a final agreement with the selected project bidder, Dart-led consortium DECCO, is still in progress, government announced Tuesday.
DoE: No prosecution over dumped concrete in Red Bay mangrove
The Department of Environment will not recommend prosecution against National Concrete, after a company truck was spotted Monday evening dumping concrete into a mangrove swamp in Red Bay.
Medical waste, sewage mix in open trench at Brac landfill
An open pit of untreated medical waste and septic tank sewage at the Cayman Brac landfill is creating potentially “inhumane” conditions for staff.
The problem...
DEH puts dent in derelict car problem
The Department of Environmental Health is working to clear derelict and abandoned from around Grand Cayman, having already removed about 200 cars over the past few months.
New government effort to remove derelict vehicles
A year and a half after the Department of Environmental Health stepped up enforcement on derelict vehicles and removed almost 200 abandoned cars from Cayman’s streets in the first quarter of 2019 alone, government is attempting to tackle the problem once again.
New recycling containers for eastern districts
The Department of Environmental Health has placed new recycling containers for public use in the eastern districts.
Cayman falls short of pool safety standards
The Cayman Islands has adopted International Swimming Pool and Spa Code safety standards but is not currently implementing all of the requirements listed in...
Lions Club honours DEH staff
The Lions Club of Grand Cayman honoured Department of Environmental Health workers on Tuesday for their service and commitment to duty.
Law named after missing DEH worker Anna Evans
Missing mom Anna Evans has been etched into the law books of the Cayman Islands as legislators agreed Wednesday night to rename the Presumption of Death Law in her memory.
Multi-million-dollar fleet of garbage trucks on the way
The Department of Environmental Health will see its fleet of garbage trucks bolstered in the coming weeks, with the arrival of $4 million worth of new garbage trucks.
UPDATE: No smoke or fire detected at landfill
The Cayman Islands Fire Service observed the George Town landfill overnight and reported that no smoke or fire remained at the site as of Sunday morning.
Landfill blaze extinguished after 12 days
The major landfill fire that erupted Saturday, 7 March, forcing road and school closures and resident evacuations in George Town, has now been extinguished, a government press release said on Wednesday.
Toxic landfill smoke a health hazard
At the height of the landfill fire, concern was concentrated on controlling the rapidly expanding blaze. But the smoke, which has been reduced from thick black clouds to an everpresent smog, remains an issue affecting people’s health.
Landfill fire investigation under way
An investigation into last month’s fire at the landfill is expected to be completed in the next two weeks, according to officials at the Cayman Islands Fire Service.
Landfill continues to fight with machinery issues
At the heart of the backlog is the DEH’s single compactor, the Al-Jon 500. The $450,000 compactor has been periodically in and out of operation due to mechanical and engineering issues. Between August and September, the machine was out of commission, and the DEH spent more than $60,000 on rental equipment and machine repairs.
More than 600 tons removed in bulk waste collections
Department of Environmental Health staff removed more than 600 tons of bulk waste from roadsides throughout the Cayman Islands in recent weeks.
Landfill garbage compactor breaks down
A $450,000 garbage compactor at the George Town landfill has been out of action for two months while the Department of Environmental Health awaits parts for the machinery.
Public health meeting on dengue planned
A public health meeting on dengue fever has been planned for this Wednesday in East End.
Pool shutoff device law impacting Airbnb hosts
Home-share operators across Grand Cayman are having to look at their pools and determine if a new regulation requiring emergency shutdown devices applies to them. The regulations apply to any pool that has public access.
DEH reschedules garbage collection times
Mechanical issues with Department of Environmental Health garbage collection vehicles last week means pick-ups will be done a day later than usual, according to the department.
Delays in garbage pick-ups in Bodden Town
Bodden Town residents are experiencing delays in the collection of their garbage.
DEH director wants pay increase for staff
The Department of Environmental Health’s 150 staff members are not enough to meet Cayman’s growing population and subsequent increased demand for waste collection and disposal services, according to DEH Director Richard Simms, who is calling for an increase in the complement of his workers.
Firefighters tackle blazes at landfill
Firefighters responded to the George Town landfill Wednesday for a series of fires, according to a government news release.
$4 million for new garbage truck fleet
The Department of Environmental Health has received $4 million to purchase 11 new trucks.
DEH warns consumers about hummus recall
The Department of Environmental Health is advising consumers that a foreign food distributor has recalled some of its hummus products.
NiCE workers clear sargassum from beaches
Seasonal workers in the National Community Enhancement programme have been removing sargassum seaweed from the local beaches over the past week.
Lack of DEH staff leads to garbage delays
A temporary shortage of staff at the Department of Environmental Health led to a delay in garbage collection on several areas this week.
Carter’s ‘golden handshake’ remains under wraps
Details of the pay-out to the former head of a dysfunctional government department can remain secret, the Ombudsman has ruled.
NEW: Carter’s ‘golden handshake’ remains under wraps
Details of the pay-out to the former head of a dysfunctional government department can remain secret, the Cayman Islands ombudsman has ruled.
Delayed Friday opening for DEH, landfill
The Department of Environmental Health’s main office will be closed from 7-9am on Friday. The George Town landfill will also be closed between 7-9am.
Garbage disposal
Today's editorial cartoon.
Department of Environmental Health urges proper garbage disposal
The Department of Environmental Health has found a number of illegal dumpsites in recent weeks.
EDITORIAL – Being responsible for solid waste management
We welcome and support the Department of Environmental Health’s ongoing public education initiative to raise awareness among residents “about the importance of adequately packaging and handling household garbage”.
DEH launches garbage packaging campaign
The Department of Environmental Health has launched a public education campaign to encourage members of the public to properly package and handle household waste.
EDITORIAL — When no news is bad news
Public officials have a duty to swiftly inform the public about slip-ups, detours and unexpected events
No policy for alerting public to ocean bacteria spikes
In October, levels of faecal bacteria in the waters surrounding the east end of Grand Cayman were found to be nearly 50 times greater than accepted safety standards.
EDITORIAL — Good riddance to derelict vehicles
More than a few junkers were left so close to roadways, they threatened the safe flow of traffic. In short, it was a terrible mess.
