Alcance del Estudio

The organisational structure of the CIG is shown in Figure 2.5. Those ministries and departments with direct responsibilities with regard to the management of waste on the Islands include:

 The Ministry of Health and Culture: The ministry has responsibility for the production of the NSWMS and procurement of an integrated waste management system for the Cayman Islands, and chairs the Steering Committee for this project. The Ministry also administers the DEH;

 The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture. Housing and Infrastructure: The ministry administers the departments of Planning and Public Works amongst others. The Department of Planning will be responsible for the permitting the development of new waste management infrastructure;

 The Ministry of Financial Services, Commerce and the Environment: The ministry administers the department of the Environment amongst others;

 The Department of Public Works is project managing the production of the NSWMS and procurement of the integrated waste management system and contributes to the Steering Committee for the project;

 The Department of the Environment: The department has an overarching interest and

responsibility for the protection of the environment on the Cayman Islands and contributes the Steering Committee for the NSWMS project; and

 The DEH: The department provides the public sector waste collection services throughout the Cayman Islands and operates the principal waste management facilities. The department also undertakes environmental monitoring (and this includes the sampling and analysis surface, groundwater and leachate samples at George Town landfill). The department also contributes the Steering Committee for the NSWMS project.

DEH has 86 personnel that are involved in the delivery of the solid waste management service these include:

 4 staff involved in administrative functions;

 48 staff undertaking the waste collection service;

 17 staff involved in landfills operations

 11 staff engaged in the litter collection; and

 6 staff carrying recycling operations.

The DEH operates the exiting landfill facilities at George Town, on Cayman Brac and on Little Cayman and undertakes some monitoring of the environment surrounding George Town landfill. In this capacity DEH is self-monitoring, however the department does not undertake this function in relation to formal regulatory standards or requirements. The lack of such standards and an independent regulatory body, has, in Amec Foster Wheeler’s view. Contributed to the current situation where the impact of the landfills upon the local environment and amenity has been unclear and raised local concerns. This has been exacerbated by the lack of containment of these facilities and the restricted funding available to DEH to both operate and monitor the landfill sites to modern standards.

To enable the effective regulation of future waste management services and facilities Amec Foster Wheeler recommends:

 That the proposed development of major new waste management facilities are subject to planning processes that includes the production of an Environmental Impact Assessment (this is currently consistent with practice on the Cayman Islands);

 A Government regulatory function is established that is independent of waste management operations;

 That waste management facilities can operate only with a bespoke permit/licence issued by the regulator;

 The permits should establish the operational conditions and environmental standards that each waste management facility must operate in accordance with. The approach to the application of the environmental standards should, as far as possible, be consistent with those applied to determination a planning application;

 Waste facility operators are required to monitor their activities in accordance with the requirements of the permit/licence and report the results of this process to the regulator;

 The regulator would scrutinise permits and licence compliance. Undertake period

permit/license reviews, carry out periodic facility assessments and inspections and implement enforcement action in the event of non-compliance. Such enforcement actions could include corrective notices, activity cessation notices, financial deductions and criminal prosecution; and

 Primary regulation is introduced to bring in to effect the new regulatory regime. Funding

As indicated in the Table 2.5, DEH’s solid waste revenue is largely generated from fees on vehicle disposals and removals, incinerations, container rentals and servicing. An annual budget allocation from the

Government represents just under 50% of DEH’s overall revenue. There is limited revenue from recycling (most recently scrap metal sales) and no tipping fees are charged for landfill disposal.

Additionally, fines are issued under the Litter Law and Public Health Law however these do not constitute a material source of revenue for DEH. DEH funding is also generated by “upfront” solid waste management fees on imports goods. However it is Amec Foster Wheeler’s understanding from interviews with DEH personnel that in practice, these fees do not flow directly to DEH.

Table 2.5: DEH Funding Breakdown

Source: CIG Strategic Outline Case

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Caym an islands' solid w aste annual revenue

Current revenue stream s Services CI$ US$

Annual container rental Commercial container servicing Incinerators

Daily container rentals Grapple truck service Litter bin rentals Derelict vehicle removal Scrap metal sales Other recycling Tires

Batteries Imported vehicles

Third party subtotal 3,368,000 4,021,493 Cabinet revenue Budget allocation 3,132,552 3,740,361 Total 6,500,552 7,761,853 Vehicle disposal fees

3,140,299 Garbage fees Recycling fees 35,821 845,373 2,630,000 708,000 30,000