Government to Deploy Specialised Vessels for Regional Waste Transport

The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has announced plans to deploy specialised vessels to transport waste from islands to regional waste management facilities as part of efforts to strengthen the Maldives’ waste management system.

The update was provided as the ministry outlined progress on projects aimed at delivering a long-term solution to the country’s waste management challenges.

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According to the ministry, work is continuing under a national framework that includes establishing waste management systems across atolls and cities, developing waste-to-energy projects, and acquiring the resources required to safely transport waste from islands to regional processing hubs.

Director General of Waste Management and Pollution Control Ahmed Muruthala said specialised marine vessels are needed alongside island-level waste management equipment to transport waste between islands and regional facilities.

He said three specialised waste transport vessels are currently under construction. One vessel has been completed in India and is in the final stages of being delivered to the Maldives. A technical team is scheduled to travel to India this week to carry out the final inspection before the vessel is handed over.

Muruthala also said two specialised landing craft are being built in the Maldives and are expected to be completed by July next year before entering service.

The ministry said the government’s national waste management policy is based on the principles of a green economy and a circular economy, with the aim of establishing a comprehensive waste management system that supports sustainable development.

According to the ministry, the policy seeks to reduce the environmental and public health impacts of waste while strengthening and modernising the national waste management framework.

The ministry also noted that waste management has been legally designated as a public utility service under the Waste Management Act. It said the legislation provides for several key regulations to strengthen the sector, including the General Waste Management Regulation, the Waste Management Service Provision Regulation and the Single-Use Plastics Reduction Regulation.

The ministry said the final procedures required to publish the regulations in the Government Gazette are currently being completed.