Waste Management Corporation Ltd. (WAMCO) has announced a significant reduction in gate fees for privately operated waste collection vehicles and the integration of waste collection charges with electricity bills across all serviced islands.
Starting from 1 January, WAMCO has lowered the gate fee for privately operated waste collection vehicles accessing their waste management facilities. The gate fee, which serves as an admission charge, has been reduced from USD 13.75 to USD 6.88 per metric tonne.
In addition to the gate fee reduction, WAMCO will now integrate waste collection charges into the electricity bills in all serviced islands. This initiative follows an earlier collaboration with the State Electric Company Ltd. (STELCO) to merge waste collection charges with electricity bills for households in Malé City. The new billing system will extend this approach to customers in all islands where WAMCO provides services. For areas where FENAKA Corporation Ltd. supplies electricity, the waste collection charges will be incorporated into FENAKA’s bills.
WAMCO currently offers waste collection services in Malé City, Fonadhoo in Laamu Atoll, Maafushi in Kaafu Atoll, and Himmafushi in Kaafu Atoll. The company has not yet initiated billing for these services in those islands until now. With the new system, customers will see the waste collection charges reflected in their electricity bills starting 1 January, said WAMCO.
In terms of pricing, WAMCO charges approximately USD 9.73 per household for waste collection services. Businesses are billed at a rate of around USD 0.013 per litre of waste collected daily, and the gate fee for waste management facilities is now USD 6.88 per metric tonne.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's administration accords high priority to sustainable waste management practices. As part of this commitment, the administration has initiated a comprehensive strategy to ensure the collection and transportation of household waste to waste management facilities is conducted in an environmentally responsible manner. This programme aims to enhance and refine waste collection and management strategies while increasing public awareness of sustainable waste management practices.
In addition to servicing inhabited islands, WAMCO extends its waste collection and management services to tourist resorts, supporting environmental sustainability within the tourism industry.