New Hazardous Waste Management Centre to be Developed in Raa Atoll
Ministry of Tourism and Environment signs agreement with Wee Hour Investment to establish a hazardous waste recycling centre in Vandhoo, Raa Atoll | Photo: Ministry of Tourism and Environment
The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has signed an agreement with Wee Hour Investment Private Limited to establish a hazardous waste recycling and export centre in Vandhoo, Raa Atoll.
The agreement was formalised by Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment Hassaan Mohamed, who represented the Ministry, and Office Manager Shadheen Ibrahim on behalf of Wee Hour Investment Private Limited.
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The Ministry has signed a contract with Wee Hour Investment Pvt Ltd for the design and construction of an Interim Hazardous Waste Storage Facility in R. Vandhoo, within the Regional Waste Management Facility. The project is scheduled to be completed within 10 months. pic.twitter.com/4bbsesH0AS— Ministry of Tourism and Environment (@MoTmv) May 11, 2025
According to the Ministry, the facility will be developed within the existing Regional Waste Management Centre in Vandhoo. It will consist of three key areas: an office section, a waste storage section, and a recycling section. The project is being implemented with financial support from the Global Environment Facility and is expected to cost USD 1.2 million. Completion is targeted for March 2026.
The centre will specialise in the classification and handling of hazardous waste, dividing it into four specific categories: lithium batteries, fire extinguishers, toxic waste, and pressure vessels.
The government is also undertaking a broader hazardous waste management initiative in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), also backed by the Global Environment Facility. As part of this initiative, a legal framework will be introduced to regulate the import and management of hazardous chemicals, along with a dedicated system for their control.
This development adds to a growing network of hazardous waste facilities in the Maldives. The country’s first centre was established in Addu City in the south, with similar centres currently being developed in the Malé region and the north.
