Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna has stated the fees charged by Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) for waste collection and disposal will remain the same, despite the new requirement to separate the waste before collection.
Speaking at a press conference, Environment Minister Shauna said the implementation of the new waste management regulations, which requires households to separate and sort their waste before placing it outside for collection, is part of the efforts to improve waste management in the country. The minister noted about 1,200 tonnes of waste are collected from the Greater Male’ Region and disposed at Thilafushi on a daily basis. She said the waste separation is currently carried out by WAMCO staff after transferring the waste to Thilafushi. She added the waste is currently managed by packing or baling the waste to reduce volume.
The environment minister stated the decision to enforce separation of waste at household level will ease the waste management process. She said WAMCO’s fees will not change despite the new regulation coming into effect. WAMCO currently charges a monthly fee of USD10 for household waste collection and disposal.
The waste management regulations were amended and published in the Government Gazette in August last year. The amended regulations mandate waste to be sorted at domestic level into general waste, plastic and other waste before collection. WAMCO said the corporation reserves the right to refuse collection of unsorted waste, starting from June 1.
Speaking at the press conference held regarding the implementation of the new regulations, Deputy Managing Director of WAMCO Yoosuf Siraj said the corporation is working on a solution to ease the packing of separated waste. In this regard, Siraj revealed WAMCO is in efforts to import a special eco-friendly bag to pack waste. He noted many households already separate waste at domestic level, adding about waste from about 90% of Hiya flats in Hulhumale’ Phase II are sorted and separated before collection.
As per the new regulations, households that fail to sort and separate their waste can be fined USD20 for the first offence, and an additional USD32 for every subsequent offence. Local councils, state institutions, city and island level businesses and other producers of domestic waste will receive fines of USD32 and USD45 for the first two offences and USD65 for every subsequent offence. Meanwhile, resorts and companies with industrial operations will receive fines of USD65 and USD100 for the first two offences and USD130 for every subsequent offence.
WAMCO has requested its customers to use the Call And Pickup Service (CAPS) for bulky waste that do not classify as daily domestic waste.