The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has officially handed over the operation and maintenance of the hazardous waste and chemical storage centre in Addu City to the Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO).
The Addu City Interim Hazardous Waste and Chemicals Storage Facility is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Tourism and the Environment and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as part of the “Eliminating Persistent Organic Pollutants through Sound Management of Chemicals” project.
The main objective of the facility is to provide temporary storage for hazardous wastes and chemicals generated from islands within the Addu zone, in accordance with waste management regulations, and environmental standards. This includes hazardous waste from industrial activities, chemicals from school laboratories, engine fuels, and discarded batteries.
The handover agreement was signed by Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment Ahmed Nizam on behalf of the Ministry, while WAMCO’s Managing Director Mujuthaba Jaleel signed on behalf of the corporation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mujuthaba Jaleel said the initiative undertaken together with the Ministry of Environment will assist in achieving important objectives. He stated that the centre will ensure the safe and secure storage of hazardous materials in a safe manner taht does not pose a risk or inconvenience to the public.
"These improvements will also address key challenges faced by the community and the environment. Under the President’s policy, significant progress has already been made in waste management in various parts of the country this year," Mujuthaba said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister Ahmed Nizam noted that under the agreement signed, special training programmes will be conducted for WAMCO employees who will be involved in the operation of the Addu City Interim Hazardous Waste and Chemicals Storage Facility. Nizam said the Ministry has also provided some equipment required to run the centre.
“Progress is being made in the Maldives, especially during this term, under the President’s guidance to establish a comprehensive and safe waste management system,” Nizam said.
The Ministry of Environment said the facility is expected to contribute to environmental pollution prevention, and public health protection in compliance with national waste management strategies, as well as the fulfilment of obligations under the Basel and Stockholm Conventions and the establishment of sustainable hazardous waste management facilities.
Due to the limited volume of hazardous waste generated in the Maldives, the establishment of a full-scale hazardous waste disposal centre in the Maldives is neither technically nor economically viable. Therefore, the Addu centre is designed as a temporary waste storage centre, where hazardous waste will be safely collected, separated and temporarily stored. The waste stored will be exported abroad for environmentally responsible recycling or disposal in line with international treaties such as the Basel Convention.
A Standard Operations Procedure (SOP) has also been developed for the safe handling, packaging, and transport of various types of waste.