The Maldives has inaugurated its first specialised waste recovery facility, marking a significant advancement in the country’s efforts to combat plastic pollution and safeguard its marine ecosystems. Located in Kulhudhuffushi City, the initiative aims to establish the nation’s first urban centre free from plastic waste.
The Material Recovery Facility was developed through a tripartite collaboration involving the Maldives Authentic Crafts Cooperative Society (MACCS), the Kulhudhuffushi City Council, and the state-owned Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO). It forms part of the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE Project), an environmental programme led by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP).
During the inauguration ceremony, Norbu Wangchuk, Director-General of SACEP, highlighted the Maldives’ geographic vulnerability and the pressing need for marine conservation. He described the facility as a transformative step in regional environmental efforts and expressed confidence that sustained cooperation could enable Kulhudhuffushi to become the country’s first plastic-free city.
The centre is the first in the Maldives dedicated exclusively to safe waste management. Its primary objective is to protect the residents of Kulhudhuffushi and the surrounding lagoons from the harmful effects of plastic waste. WAMCO will oversee operations under a formal agreement with MACCS and the City Council.
Aminath Abdulla, Chairperson of MACCS, stated that the facility is integral to establishing a systematic and sustainable framework for waste disposal. She explained that it will serve as a temporary holding site, where waste collected from across the island is sorted, with particular emphasis on plastics. These materials are then compressed and baled using specialised equipment.
The facility is designed to prepare recyclable materials for further processing. According to MACCS, items such as plastic and aluminium will be treated using machinery that includes two baling machines, a hydraulic pallet stacker, a hydraulic pallet truck, and four pickup trucks to support waste collection and transport. In alignment with sustainability goals, the facility is partially powered by solar panels.
In addition to its technical infrastructure, the complex includes an office, pantry, and prayer room for staff. Personnel have been equipped with appropriate safety gear, and WAMCO employees have undergone project-specific training to ensure effective operation of the new systems.
Officials anticipate that the facility will significantly enhance waste management practices in Kulhudhuffushi once fully operational. The project is one of several initiatives led by MACCS to reduce plastic waste across the country. The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior representatives from MACCS, WAMCO, the City Council, and various local associations, reflecting broad institutional support for the venture.