Wheeled Bin Pilot Project

Residents within the selected route are invited to register to participate in the Pilot Project and receive a free 96-gallon capacity wheeled bin which will be assigned to their location.

Members of the DEH will be visiting residents along the selected route and community meetings will be arranged to provide additional information on the pilot and to facilitate registration on the spot. Registration Form could also be downloaded on this page and email to DEHcustomerservice@gov.ky  

If you can't repurpose your wine bottles, glass bottles and jars then please don't discard them to only end up in a landfill, instead drop them off at any Recycle Depot.

Glass bottles and jars are 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in purity or quality. 

1)      Your residence has been selected within our Pilot Area and you have the option to voluntarily take part in our Pilot Project for the collection of residential garbage using wheeled bins (“project”).

            a) Subject to your completion of a registration form, we will deliver to your residence a 96 gallon capacity wheeled bin(s).

            b) The wheeled bin will remain the property of the Cayman Islands Government’s Department of Environmental Health (“DEH”).

2)   Residents’ Responsibility

            a) Placement of Wheeled Bins

 i.  You should keep the wheeled bin within your residence and you are encouraged to bag your garbage and place in the wheeled bin and ensure the lid remains closed.

 ii.  Once per week, on the day before your appointed collection day, you should place the wheeled bin at the front or side of your residence on the street or on another place as approved by DEH (the “collection location”).

            iii.  You should ensure that you do not impede the flow of traffic and or drainage systems.

           b) Care of Wheeled Bins

            i.   You should treat the wheeled bin with due care and attention to prevent it from being damaged or lost.

ii.   For the duration of the project, should the wheeled bin requires repair or replacement due to damage, you should contact DEH at DEHCustomerservice@gov.ky or call 949-6696.

           iii. Once DEH has collected the garbage, you should remove the wheeled bin from the collection location and return it to your residence.

           iv. You are required to wash and maintain the wheeled bin in a clean and sanitary manner.

            c) Relocation or Vacate Residence 

           i.  Should you vacate your residence and move to another location, you should notify DEH at DEHCustomerservice@gov.ky or call 949-6696.

ii.  Should you move residence to a location within our Pilot Area, DEH will collect the wheeled bin and deliver it to your new location and if you wish to continue to participate in the project, DEH will assign a wheeled bin to your location.

iii.  Should you move residence to a location outside of the Pilot Area, you will not be allowed to take the wheeled bin to your new location and DEH will collect the wheeled bin and retain it.

3)  DEH Responsibility – Collection and Maintenance

a)   On the scheduled collection day, DEH will collect the garbage from the wheeled bin using their rear loading garbage truck and will replace the wheeled bin at the collection location.

b)  If you have more garbage than the bin can contain, this should be placed in a container or plastic refuse bags with openings securely tied adjacent to the wheeled bin. DEH will collect these items.

c)  Should the wheeled bin become damaged or require repair, DEH will assess to determine whether to replace or repair the wheeled bin.

d) The wheeled bin can be removed by DEH at any time and for any reason subject to at least 7 days’ notice.

4) Limit of Liability

In The Cayman Islands Government accepts no liability for any injury, property damage, or loss of any kind arising from the use of the wheeled bins.  By using the wheeled bins, the participant acknowledges and agrees that the Cayman Islands Government, its officers, employees, and agents shall not be held responsible for any claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses, including but not limited to, personal injuries, property damage, or any other harm resulting from the use, misuse, or possession of the wheeled bins.

The Pilot Project

Why is DEH doing this pilot?

The proposed new waste collection system is aimed to test the implementation of world-class standard mechanized collection and storage from residential locations. Before any new waste collection system is considered, we need to trial it within areas that have various property types to see how it will work out for residents. The results from the pilot and further consultations will be used to inform the decision for the future of waste collection in the Cayman Islands.

 What are the benefits of changing to wheeled bins?

Free wheeled bins will be provided by the DEH to replace those currently being used by residents with the aim to test the proposed new collection system:

• Reduces manual handling of garbage
•  Reduces issues with vermin
• Improves the efficiency of the collection service
• Improves public health
• Reduce litter
• Improves the visual appearance of homes and streets
• Makes it easier and safer for residents and collection crews

Wheeled bins are safer for residents as well as for our collection teams who will no longer have to lift or carry heavy garbage bags or bins. The current system for the collection of waste means that our collectors are required to lift the garbage bags or bins from their place of enclosure to the truck to empty them. The introduction of a wheeled bin system will reduce their risk of injuries.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2018.08.44 

Who is participating in this pilot project?

Residents within the selected route are invited to register to participate in the Pilot Project and receive 96-gallon capacity wheeled bins which will be assigned to their location.

 Why was this particular route selected for the pilot project?

The area selected is one of our routes within the Prospect community and it has been selected for the following reasons:

• It covers a range of housing types, geographic locations, and a diversity of communities to allow the pilot to identify any issues or concerns that may arise.
• It also provides the right conditions and challenges to better understand the needs of the wider community.
• Any lessons learned can then be built on before the pilot is extended to other communities.
• By piloting the project in this specific route, the impact of the introduction of wheeled bins can also be fully evaluated in terms of providing the benefits described.

What is the duration of the pilot project?

The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) will be trialing a Wheeled Bin Pilot Project along a selected route in the Prospect Community for a period of 6 months starting in September 2023.

 

The Wheeled Bins

Who owns the wheeled bins?

Subject to your completion of a registration form, a wheeled bin will be assigned to the residents. Participants should treat the wheeled bin with due care and attention to prevent it from being damaged or lost. However, the wheeled bin will remain the property of the Cayman Islands Government’s Department of Environmental Health (“DEH”). The wheeled bin can be removed by DEH at any time and for any reason subject to at least 7 days’ notice.

How big are the wheeled bins?

Subject to your completion of a registration form, we will deliver to your residence a 96-gallon capacity wheeled bin(s).

Should items be bagged when placed in the wheeled bins?

Residents are encouraged to bag their garbage, place it in the wheeled bin and ensure the lid remains closed. This will prevent the accumulation of garbage in the bottom of the bin, positively impacting the cleaning and maintenance of it, as well as reducing any type of odour.

What if my garbage won’t fit in my bin?

If you have more garbage than the bin can contain, this should be placed in a container or plastic refuse bags with openings securely tied adjacent to the wheeled bin. DEH will collect these items.

What if we are a large family and produce more waste?

Bins are assigned based on the number of occupants. Each case will be assessed and feedback and advice will be provided. Additionally, DEH provides the opportunity to reduce waste through its recycling programme. Visit https://www.gov.ky/deh/recycling.html for details.

 I don’t generate enough waste to fill the wheeled bin assigned to me every week. Can I have a smaller wheeled bin?

Please ONLY use the assigned wheeled bins as we moved forward to standardize the storage of garbage and the collection system. The pilot will also allow the team to assess if the current size is the most adequate based on feedback provided by participants.

What type of waste can I put into the wheeled bin?

Please ONLY place general household waste which includes:

• Dirty nappies
• Used sanitary products
• Carrier bags
• Household food waste
• Cat litter and bagged dog mess
• Pet bedding
• Plastic types that can’t be recycle
• Kitchen towels, tissues, and napkins
• Cigarette butts (once fully extinguished)
• Cotton wool and buds
•  Full vacuum cleaner bags or the contents of your vacuum cleaner
• Heavily soiled pizza boxes
• Broken household glassware such as Pyrex dishes and mirrors

If you have waste you are unsure about, then contact DEH at 949-6696 or send an email to DEHcustomerservice@gov.ky

What items should not be placed in the wheeled bins?

• Batteries. All household (dry-cell) batteries shall be deposited in the DEH collection tubes at supermarkets and commercial locations. Meanwhile, lead acid, car batteries and any other battery over 5lbs shall be dropped off at the landfill
• Recyclables (plastics Type 1 & 2, cardboard, aluminium, and metal container as well as used motor and cooking oil). https://www.gov.ky/deh/recycling.html
• Garden waste (such as soil and large branches)
• Construction and demolition materials such as bricks/rubble
• Hazardous waste (such as gasoline, chemical, batteries, paint, needles and syringes, medication, asbestos)
• Medication. Expired medicine shall be returned to the place where it was purchased
• Scrap metal
• Electrical waste (anything with a plug)
• Commercial waste
• Unpackaged broken glass

If your wheeled bin contains any of the above items, then DEH collectors reserve the right to refuse to empty it, as per existing the department’s collection policies. Please contact DEH at 949-6696 or send an email to DEHcustomerservice@gov.ky if you have any questions.

What do I do with large amounts of vegetation waste?

 Please make private arrangements to drop off your vegetation waste at the landfill.

 

Collection & Storage

Does my collection date change during the pilot?

No. Your collection day remains the same.  

Where should I leave my wheeled bin for collection?

You should keep the wheeled bin within your residence until the night before your appointed collection day when you should place the wheeled bin at the curbside or in another place as approved by DEH (the “collection location”). Ensure not to impede the flow of traffic and or drainage systems.

Where should I store my wheeled bin?

Once DEH has collected the garbage, you should remove the wheeled bin from the collection location and return it to your residence.

Do I have to build an enclosure for my wheeled bin?

No, it’s not necessary. The wheeled bin should be placed at the curbside by residents.

What do I do if I miss my collection?

Please contact DEH at DEHCustomerservice@gov.ky or call 949-6696 for assistance.

 

Maintenance & Repairs

Who will clean my bin and how?

Residents are required to wash and maintain the wheeled bin to keep them in a clean and sanitary manner.

Who is responsible for repairing the wheeled bins if necessary?

For the duration of the project, should the wheeled bin become damaged or require repair, DEH will assess to determine whether to replace or repair the wheeled bin. Residents should contact DEH at DEHCustomerservice@gov.ky or call 949-6696 for assistance.