Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna has stated that the government did not impose a fee for plastic bags as a means to generate revenue.
In response to public concerns over the introduction of a fee on plastic bags, Minister Shauna said that plastic waste is a major problem in the Maldives. She said that the Greater Male' Region alone produces an average of 800 tonnes of waste per day, of which 12% is plastic. She also said that a large area of land the size of Thilafushi will be needed every 10 years to dispose of plastic waste if a solution is not found.
Instead of stopping importing plastic bags altogether, Minister Shauna said the government has introduced a levy for plastic bags. She said that the change could lead to the switch from plastic bags to reusable bags. In addition, she said that the plastic bag fee is not a long-term revenue for the state, adding that the revenue raised from plastic bags will decline.
Noting that this is a practice in other countries in the world, Minister Shauna said no one would agree to pay an additional tax. However, she said this step is necessary due to the plastic waste problem in the Maldives. In addition, she said that most islands still burn all kinds of waste and dispose of them in the sea. She said such practices are causing serious damage to the beauty, environment, health, and economy of the country.
All business activity operating in the Maldives is now required to charge a fee of USD0.13 as a plastic bag fee. It has resulted in a huge price hike for plastic bag bundles, which has risen from USD1.6 per bundle with 100 plastic bags to USD15. The government is committed to phasing out single-use plastics in the Maldives by 2023, as per the Parliament Resolution of 2019. The amendment to the Environmental Protection and Conservation Act has prohibited the import, manufacture, and marketing of single-use plastics as determined by President Solih.