Vehicles to be used in the newly established waste management site in Industrial Village. PHOTO:Mohamed Sharuhaan/MIHAARU
The Maldives government on Wednesday officially transferred waste collection in capital Male’ from the previously used landing crafts to the newly reclaimed Industrial Village on the southwest coast of the island.
The land allocated for waste collection in the Industrial Village was handed over to the Ministry of Environment and Energy in late November, with plans to establish a waste management centre by Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO).
While speaking at the inauguration of the land, Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said the previous mechanism of collecting waste in landing crafts and transporting them to the neighbouring island of Thilafushi has caused pollution and bad odour in that region of Male. Hence, with the new plan, the use of landing craft vessels for collection will be scrapped.
According to Minister Thoriq, the simple waste collection mechanism used in the Industrial Village center at the beginning will be advanced into a state of the art waste management center by its completion. While the project is scheduled to be completed by 2018, three landing crafts are currently being built abroad for the use of WAMCO.
Minister Thoriq also noted that the State Budget 2017 includes funds for land reclamation in Thilafushi, which is to be allocated for waste management.
According to the new plan, different paths are allotted for bicycles, motorcycles and lorries in the Industrial Village. The waste will be collected in a special lorry which will carry the waste to a specialized landing craft to be transported to Thilafushi.
The waste which was being dumped at the Maldives Ports Limited area will also be collected in the Industrial Village from now on.
According to WAMCO’s Managing Director Ibrahim Fuad, the new landing craft will be designed to carry these vehicles and will not spread bad odour.
In order to find a better solution to the waste collection issues of Male, WAMCO has commenced a major project, which includes procuring 20 waste collection tricycles, registration of waste collection service and establishing a waste management mechanism in Thilafushi which is expected to cost USD 100 million (MVR 1.5 billion).