Grand Cayman, April 5, 2022 – As many organisations and volunteers get together to celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 22, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is reminding the public that assistance can be offered by providing gloves, garbage bags and pick-up of collected garbage after a community, beach and/or roadside clean-up activity. 

Requesting DEH community clean-up services is very easy. Just visit www.deh.gov.ky, download the “Community Clean-up Assistance Request Form” and email it to[email protected] at least two weeks before the day of the activity. This is to facilitate the coordination of resources and manpower to respond to the request. 

The DEH is also encouraging the separation of recyclable items from the waste collected during any clean-up activity. The materials currently being recycled by DEH and generally found at cleanups are plastic type 1 (PETE) and type 2 (HDPE), glass bottles and jars, as well as tins and aluminium cans. These materials need to be emptied, clean and free of contamination such as muck and dirt to be able to be recycled. Other important items to be separated from the general waste are household, lead acid and car batteries. 

“It is important that people realise that taking care of our environment is a community effort. It takes all entities, such as government, private business, neighborhoods and school children to help our environment. One group can not expect to do everything. We are all in this together”, said DEH Director, Mr. Richard Simms.

Participants are encouraged to follow DEH’s safety guidelines to avoid injury or distress when taking part in any roadside and beach clean-up activity. 

1.    Wear a hat, sunscreen and start early.

2.    Wear gloves and closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops or bare feet) at all time.

3.    Use caution when handling sharp objects and large debris. Do not lift heavy objects like logs and large debris. Leave driftwood and other natural items on the beach. 

4.    Be cautious, try not to trample plants that grow by the sea in the grassy areas.

5.    Place bags of garbage on the side of the road or the designated area so they are highly visible to Department of Environmental Health Staff. Be careful not to obstruct traffic. 

6.    Clearly identify any bags of sorted recyclable materials.

Special attention should be given in the case of any encounter with hazardous materials, as follows:

1.    Avoid any drums and unidentified containers, which may contain hazardous chemicals. Even opening these containers to inspect the contents can result in serious injury! 

2.    Do not touch any medical waste such as syringes.

3.    Avoid removing any lead-acid batteries (car/boat batteries). The acid contained in these batteries is extremely corrosive and may cause permanent eye and skin damage.

The location of such items should be noted and DEH should be contacted immediately. 

In the case of finding any kind of deceased or injured animal, which may be infected or dangerous, contact the Humane Society (domestic animals) or the National Trust (wild animals) if it is still alive. Contact the DEH for the removal of any deceased animal.

For additional information, please contact the DEH at 949-6696, email us at [email protected], visit the DEH’s website at www.deh.gov.ky  or message our Facebook page at https://bit.ly/3LEK55q