Pledge to recycle in celebration of Earth Day as part of your commitment to the Environment. April 22, is designated Earth Day where worldwide people are being encouraged to take part in any activity that benefits Planet Earth, and here in the Cayman Islands, the Ministry of Finance-District Administration, Works, Lands, and Agricultural (FINANCE-DAWLA) and the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) are urging everyone to practice recycling.

The Honorable Premier Ministry of Finance-DAWLA Ms. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly is encouraging everyone in the Cayman Islands to support the many “Go Green” initiatives and activities being planned for April for Earth Day. Simple things such as recycling your aluminum cans, not littering the environment are some of the things that everyone can do to help take care of the environment in the Cayman Islands.

Recycling entails collecting, processing and manufacturing, using materials that would otherwise be discarded. In Cayman, the DEH continues to recycle aluminum cans, used motor oil, used cooking oil, scrap metals, and batteries, as well as natural Christmas trees.

“Many residents and visitors are supportive of our current recycling” said DEH Director Roydell Carter. “The department has received tremendous cooperation and we have recently expanded to recycling used cooking oil. The future is getting better.”

The recycling process offers several benefits:

•          Conserves energy since it requires less to produce new products from recycled materials.

•          Saves natural resources that are sometimes irreplaceable.

•          Keeps the environment cleaner since there is less waste caused by pollution.

•          Reduces the amount of garbage sent to the landfill.

•          Reduces Carbon foot print.

•          Allows the public to play their part in helping save the environment.

One meaningful—and encouraging—statistic: Recycling a single aluminum can will save enough energy to run a TV for three hours. This saving is equivalent to a half-gallon of gasoline! according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Residents can join the recycling effort by placing used motor oil in clean plastic containers and taking them to the designated landfill drop-off area; by purchasing drinks packaged in aluminum cans instead of plastic, and by dropping off used cans at the big blue bins marked ALUMINIUM CANS ONLY and located at all major supermarkets. Smaller blue recycling containers are located at all public parks, and West Bay Road condominiums.

In addition, recycling supporters can start an aluminum can recycling programme at work or school, as well as encourage friends and neighbors to recycle.

According to the DEH Aluminium Recycling Brochure, the location of the Aluminum collection bins are located at the following sites:

•          West Bay–Foster’s Republix

•          Seven Mile Beach WB–Foster’s at the Strand (behind the beauty salon)

•          George Town–St Ignatius School

•          George Town–Foster’s at the Airport Centre

•          George Town–Kirk Supermarket

•          Prospect Area GT–Hurley’s Grand Harbour

•          Savannah/Bodden Town–Foster’s Countryside (behind the beauty salon)

•          North Side–North Side Civic Centre

•          East End – East End Primary School

•          All public parks

•          All primary schools

•          West Bay Road condominiums

For further information on recycling, contact Tania Johnson at 743-5952 or through email at [email protected]