Waste generation concerningly high: 1.7kg per person daily

Environment Ministry, on Tuesday, expressed growing concern over the rapidly increasing volume of waste generated across the Maldives.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office, Ahmed Murthaza, Director General of the Ministry’s Waste Management and Pollution Control Department, said residents in urban areas generate an average of 1.7 kilograms of waste per person each day.

Murthaza said waste management continues to be one of the country's most pressing environmental challenges. According to official statistics, the Maldives generates approximately 517,000 tonnes of waste each year, with annual waste production increasing by nine percent.

"In terms of the growing volume of waste in the Maldives, 517,000 tonnes are produced annually. This equates to an average of 1.7 kilograms of waste per person daily in urban centers," Murthaza explained.

The Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) described the trend as particularly concerning given the Maldives' limited land area and the constraints it places on waste management.

It was also highlighted that waste generated by the tourism industry far exceeds that produced by the resident population. Murthaza noted that each tourist visiting the Maldives generates an average of 3.5 kilograms of waste per night.

This is nearly three times the amount of waste generated by an average local resident.

WAMCO stated that the most common concern raised by island communities is the absence of a long-term solution to the country's waste management challenges. According to the corporation, one of the biggest barriers to addressing the issue is the lack of sufficient land available for waste management facilities on the islands.

Murthaza further emphasized that the substantial cost of establishing effective waste management systems across the Maldives remains another major obstacle to resolving the issue.

Although waste management has remained a longstanding national challenge, successive governments have continued efforts at various levels to develop and implement sustainable solutions.