Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna has revealed that the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has been requested to remove the clause in the Waste Management Act which allows the import of waste. She made the remark at the ceremony held to mark the anniversary of Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO).
At the ceremony, Minister Shauna said the Waste Management Act has made the waste management process much easier but acknowledged the public concern over the clause allowing the import of waste. As such, she said that the AGO has been requested to remove the clause from the law.
The Waste Management Act, ratified in December 2022, allows the government to monitor the production and management of waste as well as regulate the waste produced by businesses in various industries including tourism. The Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Climate Change included some crucial amendments during its review, including allowing waste to be brought into the Maldives on certain conditions. The bill initially included a clause banning any import of waste to the country. However, the committee included the amendment to allow the country to bring in waste, as many countries now consider waste a resource for producing energy.
The environment ministry has alleviated public concerns by stating that the government has no plans to allow the import of waste to the Maldives, adding the priority is to solve the longstanding issues in waste management. It added that the necessary steps are being taken to remove the clause from the Waste Management Act.