Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology has contracted Sri Lanka-based company SAW Engineering Private Limited to supply waste management equipment to 22 islands in five atolls in the Maldives. The agreement was signed by Minister of of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna and Director of SAW Engineering Bandula Jayarathne.
The project is being carried out under the Maldives Clean Environment Project implemented at a cost of USD486,381 by the environment ministry with the grant assistance of the World Bank.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Shauna said the waste problem is a major problem faced in islands in the Maldives and requires urgent solutions. As such, she said the project will help alleviate the challenges faced in some of the islands.
Under the project, SAW Engineering will supply waste management equipment to 22 islands in Meemu Atoll, Faafu Atoll, Dhaalu Atoll, Thaa Atoll, and Laamu Atoll. The equipment that will be supplied through the project includes multi-purpose mini balers, single-feed glass bottle crushers, dustbins, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, and other equipment. The company is scheduled to supply the equipment within four months.
The environment ministry stated that the islands to be supplied with these equipment are mainly those that currently have a waste and resource management centre or are currently in the process of constructing such a centre. The project will support the waste generated in the island under an appropriate system and increase the capacity to bale, reduce volume and store large quantities of metal, plastic and paper until disposal.
It is the responsibility of the island councils to operate and properly maintain the equipment. As such, the government has decided to provide financial assistance from the Green Fund to the island councils to maintain equipment.