It is always amazing to me how so many words in a document can successfully be dumped without any damage being done to the actual message being delivered.

A case in point is the actual new detail we have obtained from the 40 pages in the just published “Strategic Outline Case: Integrated Solid Waste Management System” – see iNews Cayman story published May 25 2014 “Waste Management Strategic Outline Case now approved” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/waste-management-strategic-outline-case-now-approved/.

The Steering Committee (SOC) for the Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) [one of the few times I welcome abbreviations!], must have spent many months producing this document that tells us what?

Actually, nothing new. The 40 pages contains only what we already knew – the facts and history of the solid waste management situation in the Cayman Islands!

Yes – we need a new waste management system!

The only new information is it informs us the procurement process the Cayman Islands will have to go through for the ISWMS.

Does the government really believe the public is going to be reassured and satisfied to know the technical experts from various government and private sector agencies, who sit on the Steering Committee for the project (members include representatives from the Ministry of Health, Department of Environmental Health, Department of Environment, Ministry of Finance, Public Works Department, Public Health Department, Water Authority, Planning Department, and one private sector representative – note the ONE private sector rep!) developed this document and “will oversee the process of finding an integrated solid waste management solution”.

I believe some of us who are bordering on the insane category actually thought this was already being done!

And look at what this committee will also be responsible for: ensuring that the project encompasses five key stages also required by the FFR. These are the appraisal and business case, procurement, contract management, delivery and evaluation.

The report says what we already have been told by the Minister responsible for the dump himself, Osbourne Bodden, the project must be financed through a partnership with a private company:

“The Cayman Islands government cannot utilise conventional borrowing methods to fund the implementation. If sufficient revenue streams cannot be identified, and an effective cost recovery mechanism established, the project will not be achievable.”

Contained in the 40 pages is the one bit of bad news.

“It is unlikely that full implementation of a solid waste management system will occur prior to the next elections in May 2017. Development of a solid waste strategy will encourage continuity through successive governments who will be guided by the strategy to achieve the established goals.”

Oh really?

With a suggested cost of $100M for the project to be completed whenever and wherever it suggests $2M be placed in the budget for the next two financial years to cover the professional fees costs of the various consultants, reports, reviews, environment assessments and the actual procurement of the project!!

Is there anything to be learnt from this study? Actually, yes.

It does by setting out how European states and by extension their territories approach the problem of waste. It starts with WASTE PREVENTION!! That is the main priority. This is followed by the reuse of materials, formalised recycling and recovery. The vey last option is disposal.

Therefore there is something that can be done now.

A more concerted effort in preventing waste, reuse of materials and recycling. Government MUST get behind all three of these and they could easily start now.

And.… it wouldn’t cost $4M either.

And…. it shouldn’t have taken 40 pages to tell us this.

And…. The majority of it could be dumped …… no recycled!!