Gov’t Distributes Waste Management Vehicles to 30 Islands

The Ministry Climate Change, Environment and Energy has provided waste management vehicles to 30 islands as part of the MageySaafuRajje programme, aimed at improving waste management in islands.

The vehicles were handed over by the Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim, in a ceremony at the ministry today. These brand new vehicles were procured through a project implemented by the Ministry with the support of the Japanese Government. 

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

In total, the ministry plans to distribute vehicles to 78 islands under this initiative. Previously, on 22 February 2024, 48 islands received vehicles in a similar ceremony.

The 30 vehicles handed over today will be distributed to the remaining islands. Additionally, the Japanese Government will supply waste management equipment to 25 islands as part of this project.

Minister expressed optimism that within five years, an effective waste management system would be established in all inhabited areas of the Maldives. He highlighted that in the past six months, 22 islands have received waste management equipment and training for operating it. He also mentioned that an international tender has been awarded to supply similar equipment to 45 islands, with the delivery expected in August.

A new technology to convert kitchen waste into cardboard is being installed and tested on four islands. If successful, this technology will be expanded to other islands.

During his speech, Minister Ibrahim noted that while the vehicles provided today were granted for free, their high cost makes such donations unsustainable in the long term. He urged the island councils to utilise the vehicles efficiently to deliver waste management services to their communities.