Starting 1 January, customers in all islands will be charged for waste collection services, with the billing integrated into the electricity bill, Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO) has announced.
This decision comes following WAMCO’s earlier initiative this year to merge its waste collection charges with the electricity bills for households in Malé City, in collaboration with the State Electric Company Limited (STELCO).
WAMCO currently offers waste collection services in Malé City and other urban areas, as well as in Fonadhoo, Laamu Atoll, and Maafushi, Kaafu Atoll. However, WAMCO has not yet initiated billing for the service in those islands. In early December, WAMCO also commenced waste collection operations in Himmafushi, Kaafu Atoll.
According to the company, from 1 January onwards, the waste collection charges will be merged with the electricity bills in all serviced islands. In areas where FENAKA Corporation Ltd. supplies electricity, the waste collection charges will be incorporated into FENAKA’s bills, according to WAMCO.
Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, Mohamed Akram, Assistant Manager of Sales and Projects at WAMCO, highlighted the convenience of this new billing method for customers. "Effective from 1 January, in islands where we provide services, the billing will be integrated with STELCO or FENAKA electricity bills. Although the billing commences in January, customers will be required to start payments in February for services rendered in January," he explained.
Ahmed Shafiu, WAMCO’s General Manager for Southern Operations, noted that this decision was made with extensive input from all relevant stakeholders. WAMCO would now provide daily waste collection services starting 1 January, compared to the irregular schedule previously followed, he added.
"Effective from 1 January, the bills of all customers currently receiving services will be merged through the system. Unregistered customers will be incorporated into the system through the tie processing procedure. For those opting out of the waste collection service, we are implementing our gate centre service," Shafiu stated.
WAMCO charges approximately USD 9.73 per household for its waste collection services. Businesses are billed at a rate of around USD 0.013 per litre of waste collected daily, and a gate fee of USD 13.75 is also applied.