Certain items are not recycled here because it is not cost-effective due to the high cost of shipping the materials and the low resale value of the recycled products overseas. Instead of throwing away old newspapers and magazines, put them to good use by contacting the Cayman Islands Humane Society at 949-1461 (they use newspapers as cage liners for the animals) or the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (magazines).

Aluminium cans are stored at the landfill until sufficient quantities are collected for shipping.  Then they are sold to a recycling facility in the United States. To get a program going at your office, purchase a few garbage bins and bin liners, place the DEH signage on them and get a couple of dedicated people to collect the cans regularly. Contact Tania Johnson at the DEH (244-4152) for pick up or take them to the bin at Fosters.

For information on aluminium can drop-off locations, select the link below or download the Dept. of Environmental Health's brochure.

The batteries are stored at the landfill and then shipped off island to a recycling facility in the United States.

Yes, if you collect a large amount, you can bring them down to the landfill (or call them for pick-up) and they can put them with the metals to be shipped off the island.

Glass is not being recycled at the moment, but DEH is looking to introduce a deposit program. Previously, the National Trust had a glass crusher on loan and made it available to the community to use for free. It was well-received (and often used) so we're hopeful that longer-term opportunities such as this open up in the future. Glass crushers solve the "mass" problem; however, there is no post-consumer market for the glass yet.

Try to get your company to invest in a glass crusher (if suitable).  Glass can be reduced to 10% of its original mass, they are quiet and can fit under the bar.  Chris Weaver at Island Supply (949-8356) is a super "green" guy and will give you a fair price on the crusher as well as let you know the logistics of disposing of the glass.  We need to appeal to individuals and corporations on the island to write/email Hon. Arden McLean and ask that the government make it a priority.

Organic material is kept separated, and it is mulched with the wooden shipping pallets to be used as part of the fill used to cover the garbage on top of the landfill.

Waste-to-energy is technology whereby landfill waste is incinerated at high temperature, causing very little air pollution while generating electricity.  Countries like Denmark, Sweden and Luxembourg (where land is a scarce resource) have been using this technology successfully for years.  There are now 89 such plants in the USA and one is being planned for the Cayman Islands - slated to be operational in 2011.