GBB Assisting Cayman Islands
with Waste-to-Energy and
Solid Waste Management Planning
Expertise in Unique Issues of Island Communities
a Key Factor in GBB's Selection
Cruise ship with landfill site in background
on Grand Cayman. |
GBB was selected by the Cayman Islands
Government's Department of Environmental Health (DEH) to provide
Waste-to-Energy (WTE) and Solid Waste Management Consulting Services.
Joining GBB on this project is Cayman Islands-based APEC Consulting
Engineers, Ltd., a Civil and Structural engineering consultancy
with the expertise and background to complement. GBB’s experience
and capabilities.
The Cayman Islands, with a population
of 45,000, are a British territory located in
the western Caribbean Sea, comprising the
islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac,
and Little Cayman. The islands are situated
about 480 miles south of Miami.
GBB's experience and understanding
of the unique issues that islands present - gained from having worked
with other island communities such as the County of Maui, Hawaii,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands - were key factors in GBB's selection.
Primary
screening equipment includes:
Excavator & bucket loader in use during
mining field tests at George Town Landfill. |
The GBB Project Team combines a
unique blend of extensive solid waste management, procurement, and
incineration / waste-to-energy expertise, engineering know-how,
and local knowledge and presence,” noted Sean McGinn, DEH's
Assistant Director for Solid Waste. “In addition to exploring
avenues to increase recycling and improve our solid waste management
operation, our priority is to develop a WTE facility. We look forward
to working closely with GBB and APEC on those important projects.”
The scope of the project includes
implementing WTE for both current waste and burnable waste that
can be mined from landfill areas; mining
the landfill areas; using stockpiled tires as a supplemental fuel
with the mined waste to raise its energy content and to remove
the
tire piles; implementing recycling processing for mined material,
disaster
debris, C&D materials, and other recyclables; and advancing
the
implementation of recycling opportunities for waste generated by
residents,
resorts, businesses, government, and tourists.
The initial focus of the assignment
that started in October 2007 is the
development of a waste-to-energy facility to be located on a site
adjacent
to the George Town Landfill on Grand Cayman. Keeping in mind
the Cayman Islands Government’s desire to bring about a paradigm
shift from the current disposal system to a sustainable and environmentally
superior solid waste management system, the objectives for
this future incineration system are to: maximize diversion; allow
for
materials to be mined from George Town Landfill for materials and
energy recovery; convert remaining combustible waste to energy
products; and minimize land disposal requirements.
The future solid waste management
system for the Cayman Islands needs to change from one of taking
and disposing of essentially all materials to one that processes
and maximizes diversion of both current and past landfilled/stored
materials. This will be a significant challenge to implement,”
said Harvey Gershman, GBB President.
Press
Release » |
