The Maldives Ocean Plastics Alliance (MOPA) has handed over four vehicles and baler machines to Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO) to support plastic recycling efforts.
President of MOPA Ahmed Maumoon presented the items, which were accepted by Managing Director of WAMCO Mujuthaba Jaleel. The handover includes four large garbage pickup trucks, four baler machines for compressing plastic bottles, and a number of net bags for household plastic bottle collection.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Mujuthaba expressed appreciation for the support of MOPA in strengthening WAMCO resources, highlighting the challenges of managing plastic waste. He acknowledged the alliance's significant role in handling plastic waste from Male' City and noted that the new equipment would enable WAMCO to expand plastic recycling efforts across the country's atolls.
Additionally, Mujuthaba he revealed that WAMCO is developing small-scale plastic management facilities in the atolls. As such, he said that the the donated vehicles are earmarked for use in Addu City, Hithadhoo, Fuvahmulah City, and Laamu Atoll.
Meanwhile, Maumoon emphasised the alliance’s commitment to assisting as many individuals as possible in managing plastic waste. He said that, with the new equipment, MOPA now collects plastic bottles from 65% of the population of the Maldives, including Male’. He also said that the alliance has expanded its services to cover a population of 35,000 in the atolls of the country.
MOPA had also provided plastic management equipment to WAMCO earlier this year, as part of a broader initiative supported by various donors. The alliance estimates that with the ongoing programmes, 20 million plastic bottles will be collected annually.