Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 29 July 2025– The Environmental Health Department is making all residents and businesses aware that pallet garbage storage is not an acceptable method for waste containment. The Department is notifying individualsand businesses that they have thirty (30) days to dismantle any pallet garbage storage and replace it with a secure, durable waste storage solution, such as a proper secure garbage bin with a tight-fitting lid or a concrete garbage house or enclosure.
Pallet-based garbage storage poses several environmental and public health risks, including:
- Attracting pests such as rodents, stray animals, and insects
- Creation and loose waste during wind or rain events
- Unsanitary conditions due to dripping, spillage and improper containment
The deadline for Compliance is September 1st, 2025. After this date, properties found using pallet garbage storage may be subject to warnings, fines, or further enforcement action in accordance with Public and Environmental Health
Ordinance, Section 8.49 which states:
Provision of Receptacles for Waste
49. (1) A health officer may serve notice in writing upon the owner or occupier of premises from which waste is collected by virtue of a waste collection service requiring him to provide at his own expense such number and type of receptacles for waste as are specified in the notice and, where the premises are commercial premises, to provide a suitable site within the curtilage of those premises for the location of bulk waste bins of the type and number specified in the notice, together with adequate access to allow any such wastebins to be collected and returned.
(2) A person who fails to comply with a notice served upon him under subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable—
(a) to a fine of $100 where the premises concerned are residential premises; or
(b) to a fine of $500 where the premises concerned are commercial premises:
Provided that it shall be a defence to a charge brought under this subsection to prove that the receptacles were not available on the Islands at the date of the offence.
Residents are encouraged to take action now as we work together to keep our communities clean, safe and healthy. For assistance or information on compliant garbage storage options, please contact the Environmental Health Department at Tel: 338-2142/2143 or Email: EHD@gov.tc.
