Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) said on Saturday that it had transferred 1200 tonnes of solid waste from Alifushi Island of Raa Atoll to Thilafushi for disposal as part of the ongoing regional waste management project in the northern atolls.
The state-owned company said it was facing unexpected difficulties in transporting waste from the islands of Noonu, Raa, Baa and Lhaviyani atolls due to a lack of resources.
The work to transfer solid waste accumulated in Alifushi to Thilafushi began in mid-September and concluded on October 27.
The waste management project in the north will see the development of a regional waste management centre in Vandhoo of Raa Atoll. But the centre in Vandhoo will become operational once all the islands are cleared of previously accumulated solid waste materials, the company said.
Managing Director Ibrahim Fuad said it would take two months to transport waste from all islands in the four atolls to Thilafushi. It took longer than expected to transport waste materials from Alifushi to Thilafushi as the island had a large quantity of industrial waste, he added.
Fuad attributed the delay to the fact that they were using a single landing craft to transport waste from the all 46 islands in the four atolls.
The regional waste management project in the northern atolls is funded by the World Bank and the government.