Maldives generates 517,000 tonnes of waste annually, ministry says

The Maldives generates approximately 517,000 tonnes of waste each year, with the cost of collection, transport and disposal remaining the main challenge to improving waste management, according to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology.

Speaking at a press conference at the President's Office on Tuesday, Director General of the ministry's Waste Management Section, Ahmed Murthala, said waste management remains one of the country's main environmental issues.

He said concerns over waste management are frequently raised by residents during government visits to islands.

Murthala said many islands lack sufficient space to store the volume of waste generated.

"The most significant issue is that islands lack the capacity and space to store a waste volume that continues to increase day by day," he said.

He added that the Maldives' geography makes waste management more costly, as waste must be transported by both land and sea.

According to the ministry:

Murthala said waste generation is increasing by around 9 per cent annually.

He said the ministry has prepared draft legislation and regulations to support a long-term waste management system. Consultations on the proposals have been completed, and the ministry is preparing to publish the regulations in the Government Gazette.

Murthala added that the country's geography continues to present challenges in implementing waste management plans as designed.

He said the government is also reviewing existing legislation to address operational constraints. As an example, he noted that current laws prohibit the transport of waste to inhabited islands, but practical requirements have made it necessary to consider legal provisions that would allow such transfers under specified conditions.