By Alric Lindsay
Data from a 2022 Compendium of Statistics published by the Economics & Statistics Office shows that three landfills were used in the Cayman Islands to manage over 100,000 tons of waste for most of the period from 2012 to 2022. With the Government’s recent announcement of the intention to terminate the waste management contract with the DECCO consortium and no alternative solutions discussed publicly, it is unclear how the tons of waste that usually end up at landfills will be appropriately managed. The problem is further exacerbated by the rapidly rising population, now over 80,000, according to the Economics & Statistics Office data. Without a solution from policymakers, the country will continue to be exposed to health, environmental and safety issues.
Health issues
Regarding health issues, there are concerns that the Department of Environmental Health will continue its previous practice of using an incinerator at one or more future landfills to burn medical waste, seized goods, and narcotics (this totalled 6,400 pounds per week with the George Town landfill, according to the Department of Environmental Health).
When the Department of Environmental Health initially confirmed this amount of medical and other waste burning at the George Town landfill in November 2022, it said, “No emissions monitoring is possible on the exhaust gases from the current system.”
The Department of Environmental Health added:
The incinerator has a two stage burn system with a primary chamber for the waste to be placed for incineration and a secondary chamber where the flue gases are further incinerated prior to emission from the stack.
Typical gases released from these systems are in the majority combustion products such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide plus hydrogen chloride and other trace gases.
If this practice continues at a future landfill, questions about air quality and safety will be raised.
Environment
Looking closer at environmental issues, the 2022 Compendium of Statistics said that the landfill was one of the top three methane producers in the Cayman Islands.
The danger of methane, according to information published by Public Health England included in the 2022 compendium of statistics, is that it “is a colourless, odourless, highly flammable gas” and “high levels of methane can reduce the amount of oxygen breathed from the air.”
The 2022 compendium of statistics added:
This can result in mood changes, slurred speech, vision problems, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, facial flushing and headache.
In severe cases, there may be changes in breathing and heart rate, balance problems, numbness, and unconsciousness. If exposure is large or continues for a longer period it can kill.
Skin or eye contact with liquefied methane released under pressure may cause frostbite.
Details of the June 2016 National Solid Waste Management Strategy of the Cayman Islands Government, published on the PlanCayman website, also reveal concerns about groundwater and surface water contamination.
The report stated:
During the site inspection in November 2014 Amec Foster Wheeler dipped the monitoring borehole MW16 located between the western canal and the waste oil storage area. Groundwater within the well was seen to be visually contaminated with black oils.
This suggests that the oil containment bund system is breeched on occasion, possibly by overtopping during heavy rainfall events.
The report added:
Potential risks to surface water canals from both hydrocarbons (spills and overtopping of bunds) are assessed as high. Risks from ammonia and orthophosphate (from groundwater base flow) are assessed as moderate, and from iron are assessed as moderate/low.
Sediments at the mouth of the North Canal are a possible source of hydrogen sulphide with a moderate risk to humans.
These environmental risks could reoccur if another Mount Trashmore is created and no recycling or waste management solution is urgently implemented.
Safety
Regarding safety, if another Mount Trashmore develops and fires occur through arson or spontaneous combustion of materials, such “fires can be intensified by landfill gas (methane), which may cause the fire to spread throughout the landfill.” This is according to wasteadvantagemag.com.
wasteadvantagemag.com added:
Surface fires generally burn at relatively low temperatures and are characterized by the emission of dense white smoke and the products of incomplete combustion.
The smoke includes irritating agents, such as organic acids and other compounds.
wasteadvantagemag.com continued:
When surface fires burn materials such as tires or plastics, the temperature in the burning zone can be quite high.
Higher temperature fires can cause the breakdown of volatile compounds, which emit dense black smoke.
Smoke and fire from any future Mount Trashmore could impact nearby homes, schools, and residents’ general health and well-being.
Urgency in finding a long-term solution
Given the risks associated with using landfills, it is imperative that policymakers find a solution promptly.
Taking real action in this area involves the Government immediately reinitiating the bidding process to find a new partner for waste management or recycling to eventually achieve the objectives plainly set out in its National Solid Waste Management Strategy, dated June 2016.
Any delay in this process, including the current, reported, protracted delay in legally terminating the DECCO consortium contract, could have unintended long-term, unfavourable environmental, health, and other consequences.
Note to readers:
Regarding the 2022 Compendium of Statistics referred to in this article, the details of the annual waste managed by the Department of Environmental Health are set out below:
In addition, readers are encouraged to read the June 2016 National Solid Waste Management Strategy of the Cayman Islands Government, which was published on the PlanCayman website at www.plancayman.ky/resources/.
The report, produced by Amec Foster Wheeler Environmental & Infrastructure US Limited, states:
The future collection, treatment and disposal of waste in Cayman Islands will be underpinned by the National Solid Waste Management Policy (NSWMP) which has been established by the CIG.
It sets out key policies and objectives for the future management of solid waste and the delivery of an Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) within the Cayman Islands.
It also identifies important steps and actions that will be taken to deliver the ISWMS.
These actions will be targeted to improve the sustainability of waste management practices, make increased use of waste as a resource and ensure the protection of the environment and amenity of the islands.
The people of the Cayman Islands must hold the Government accountable if it is deemed that it is failing to achieve the objectives set out in its National Solid Waste Management Strategy.
