Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO) has expressed concern over the decision by the Male’ City Council to not renew the contract to clean the streets and public spaces of Male’ City and Villimale’.
During a meeting, members of the Male’ City Council said that USD161,000 is spent every month on WAMCO’s street cleaning service and that the work would cost USD98,000 if done by the city council. Therefore, the members decided to not renew the contract with WAMCO.
In a press statement, WAMCO expressed concern over the future of its 100% Maldivian workforce. It also condemned the misleading statements Male’ City Council had made about the company employing foreign workers. It added that the city council had not taken into account the USD774,000 spent every year to keep the workers employed and the operational costs of providing the service.
Furthermore, WAMCO highlighted the high cost of operating vehicles and sustainable waste management. The company stated that the cost of Male’ City Council using its own vehicles for management and transport of waste to Thilafushi would be higher as they are not specialised for the service.
WAMCO was established in 2017 to manage waste in the Greater Male' Region. However, Male’ City Council has the responsibility to clean the streets and public spaces.