The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has relaunched its recycling programme in Cayman Brac, giving residents greater access to recycling services and providing additional opportunities to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.
The relaunch was marked by a visit to Cayman Brac by Minister of Health, Environment and Sustainability, Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for District Administration and Home Affairs, Honourable Nickolas DaCosta, and DEH Director Mr. Richard Simms and his team, highlighting the importance of recycling and responsible waste management in the Sister Islands.
The programme has begun with the collection of two recyclable materials streams: Plastic Types 1 (PET) and 2 (HDPE), as well as metal cans and aluminium.
Cayman Brac residents are encouraged to ensure their recyclables are clean before dropping them off at either of the two DEH Recycling Depot locations:
The Ministers’ presence at the relaunch underscores the Government’s commitment to strengthening recycling and waste reduction initiatives throughout the Cayman Islands.
Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, said: “I am delighted to see the recycling programme relaunched on Cayman Brac. One of this government’s key initiatives is to develop and implement recycling initiatives as part of its broader waste management strategy. The relaunch of the programme now makes it easier for residents on the Brac to contribute to national efforts to reuse and recycle more, and reduce the amount of waste ending up in our landfill site. I want to commend Director Simms and his Cayman Brac team for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to providing the residents of Cayman Brac with these new recycling collection depots and for encouraging all of us to think differently about waste.”
Hon. Nickolas DaCosta, Minister for District Administration and Home Affairs, added: “This is excellent news for the people of Cayman Brac and another positive step for our community. Residents of the Sister Islands should have meaningful access to the same important environmental services and opportunities available elsewhere in the Cayman Islands, and these conveniently located collection points make recycling more practical and accessible. I look forward to seeing the programme expand with additional locations and recyclable materials, as well as to Little Cayman, and I encourage residents to make full use of the service and help reduce the amount of waste going into our landfill.”
DEH Director, Mr Richard Simms said the relaunch represents an important step in making recycling more accessible to residents of Cayman Brac. “Recycling is a shared responsibility, and we want to make it as convenient as possible for residents to participate. By relaunching the programme in Cayman Brac and providing accessible collection points, we are giving residents another practical way to reduce the amount of waste going into the landfill. We encourage everyone to make recycling part of their everyday routine and to help us build a cleaner and more sustainable Cayman Islands.”
Recyclables collected through the programme will be taken to a designated area at the Cayman Brac Landfill, where they will be securely stored until they are shipped to the DEH Recycling Centre in George Town for processing.
The programme will be expanded in phases, with additional recycling locations and more recyclable material streams coming soon. The DEH also plans to extend the programme to Little Cayman, further increasing recycling opportunities across the Sister Islands.
Recycling provides a range of environmental benefits, including reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills, conserving natural resources, reducing pollution and supporting the recovery and reuse of valuable materials. Increased recycling can also help extend the operational life of landfill facilities by reducing the amount of material requiring disposal.
Ms Tamara Ebanks, Chief Officer for the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability added her support, reaffirming the initiative’s synergy with the Ministry’s priorities: “The return of recycling services to Cayman Brac is a welcome step forward and supports the Ministry’s broader vision for improving environmental health across the Cayman Islands. As part of our public consultation on the Environmental Health Bill, we have heard strong support from residents in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman for greater access to recycling, with similar views expressed during our engagement in Grand Cayman.
“While we continue to seek the public’s feedback on the proposed legislation, initiatives such as this demonstrate the practical steps we can take alongside legislative reform to support cleaner, healthier communities. We hope residents and businesses will make full use of the service, embrace recycling as part of their everyday habits and help reduce the amount of plastic and other recyclable waste entering our waste stream.”
The DEH is asking residents to help make the programme successful by recycling responsibly and placing only accepted materials in the designated bins available at the depots. Keeping recyclables clean and separated helps maintain the quality of the materials collected and supports efficient processing.
For additional information contact the DEH by calling 949-6696, email dehcustomerservice@gov.ky, visit www.gov.ky/deh or send a message via the DEH Facebook page at https://bit.ly/3LEK55q.