Greater Malé Waste to Energy Project: Public Awareness Campaign

The Greater Malé region and its outer islands, classified as Zone 3 in the national solid waste management policy, face severe environmental challenges due to inadequate waste collection and disposal systems. This zone encompasses 35 inhabited islands, 73 tourist resorts, 14 city hotels, and 177 guest houses across North Ari Atoll, South Ari Atoll, Malé Atoll, and Vaavu Atoll, serving a population of 295,000 people—representing 53% of the Maldives' total population.

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Currently, the region generates 836 tons of solid waste daily, much of which ends up in ocean spillage or is dumped and burned at the 30-year-old Thilafushi Island dumpsite. This creates significant public health hazards and environmental damage, with visible smoke plumes affecting the capital Malé, the international airport, and nearby tourist resorts.