Cayman still has NO official island wide recycling, ban on engine idling, or plans to move the offensive smelling dump.

OPINION PIECE by one of our readers: Recycling is still just a word "DEH calls for recycling" is the headline today in the Caycompass.com, but the onus is not put on individuals to make recycling part of their daily routine. No one feels guilty tossing that beer bottle in with newspapers and sytrofoam containers, because no collection containers are conveniently provided for that purpose. So while the rest of the modern and civilized world recycles, Cayman unabashedly languishes behind in cleaning up their garbage efficiently.
Here is the article: "Make a New Year’s resolution to make recycling a part of your routine, is the word from the Department of Environmental Health (DEH). Protecting our environment by recycling is becoming a top priority for many people in the Cayman Islands,” said the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) Director Roydell Carter. It’s an issue that concerns many people – not only in the Cayman Islands, but throughout the Caribbean, and throughout the world. In order to do their part, the DEH collects aluminium cans, used motor oil and lead acid batteries in Grand Cayman for recycling. These items are stored at the landfill until sufficient quantities are collected, after which they are shipped to a recycling facility in the US. And after the holidays, the public is encouraged to drop their natural Christmas trees at specific locations in Grand Cayman, so that the tress can be recycled into mulch. DEH also has the following tips to help residents recycle year round, at home and in the office. Everyone can take part in recycling; everyone can do their part to help the environment,” said DEH Public Education and Promotions Officer Tania Johnson. The article ends at this point. Where are those recycling tips Tania? --------------- Automobile idling is rampant in Grand Cayman You see it everyday. It's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk, yes. But witness the SUV with the motor running, air conditioning going, and the missing occupant. Oh, they have been in the bank line up for the past 30 minutes. They finally stroll back to their vehicle, heave their sweaty, oversized butts into the coolness of the drivers seat and take off. This monumental contribution to the depletion of the ozone layer is played out thousands of times a month by ignorant Caymanians everywhere. Here are some facts for your foolish and selfish acts: The average car produces its own weight in CO2 emissions each year. By not idling you’ll reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to problems such as smog and global warming and depletion of the ozone layer. Ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting your engine. Depend ing on gas prices, you can expect to save well over $70 per year just by turning off your engine. Idling a vehicle for 10 minutes a day uses up more than 100 litres of gas a year. By turning your engine off, you and others around you won’t have to breathe unhealthy exhaust fumes from a vehicle going nowhere. SO TURN OFF YOUR BLOODY ENGINES WHEN YOU GET OUT OF THE CAR LARD ASSES! ---------------------- The Grand Cayman Dump An embarassment to the country and a gut wrenching, offensive smelling, barely hidden, monstrosity that keeps growing. What to do with this island's garbage dump is apparently still a mystery to the Cayman government. Located along the well traveled bypass, which is then only about a hundred meters from some prime "Seven Mile" beach, the smell that emanates from the waste in this place has made me wretch several times since living on this island. It is amazing to me that several residential complexes and developments have gone up around the dump that were selling for more that $100, 000. One could not pay me to live in such putrid conditions on a daily basis. Perhaps with the decades old ongoing promise of moving the dump further inland, the value of those dwellings would show itself in the future, but for now no such action is forthcoming.