Greater Malé Waste to Energy Project: Public Awareness Campaign (Sub-Contractor)

Greater Malé Waste to Energy Project: Public Awareness Campaign

Turquoise Lab is proud to announce our participation in the Greater Malé Waste to Energy Project (GMWEP), a transformative environmental initiative that will revolutionize solid waste management across the Maldives' most populous region. As part of a consortium led by e.Gen Consultants Ltd, Bangladesh, we are serving as the specialized sub-consulting firm for this critical ADB-funded project.

Project Overview

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.

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.

The Solution

The Government of Maldives, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JFJCM), is implementing a comprehensive waste-to-energy solution. The project will establish a sustainable regional solid waste treatment system featuring proven WTE technology, recycling infrastructure, and improved disposal facilities.

URBASER S.A. has been awarded the Design-Build-Operate (DBO) contract and will operate the facility for 15 years following the 3.5-year construction period. This partnership ensures long-term sustainability and adherence to international environmental standards.

Turquoise Lab's Role

As the public awareness specialist within the consortium, Turquoise Lab brings our expertise in environmental communication and community engagement to this vital project. Our role encompasses:

Strategic Communication Development: Creating comprehensive behavioral change strategies focused on waste-to-energy benefits, 3R practices (reduce, reuse, recycle), and public participation in sustainable waste management.

Multi-Channel Awareness Campaigns: Developing and implementing awareness programs across traditional and digital media platforms, targeting diverse demographics from school children to elderly community members across Greater Malé and outer islands.

Community Engagement: Facilitating door-to-door campaigns, educational workshops, and training programs for schools, businesses, and community organizations to ensure widespread adoption of proper waste segregation and collection practices.

Content Creation: Producing multilingual communication materials including documentaries, social media content, educational resources, and interactive digital experiences that showcase how individual actions contribute to the waste-to-energy system's success.

Expected Impact

This project represents a paradigm shift from open dumping and burning to modern, environmentally sound waste management. The waste-to-energy facility will not only eliminate the environmental hazards currently plaguing the region but also generate clean electricity for local communities.

Through our comprehensive public awareness campaign, we aim to ensure that all stakeholders—from individual households to tourist facilities—understand their crucial role in making this system successful and sustainable for generations to come.

The Greater Malé Waste to Energy Project exemplifies how innovative technology, international cooperation, and community engagement can address pressing environmental challenges while creating sustainable solutions for island nations facing similar waste management issues worldwide.