Government to Deploy Specialized Vessels to Transport Island Waste to Regional Hubs

The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy is deploying a fleet of specialized marine vessels to transport waste from across the archipelago to regional management facilities. This initiative is a central component of the government's strategy to modernize the national waste management system and address long-standing challenges in island waste disposal. Director General of Waste Management and Pollution Control Ahmed Muruthala confirmed that three specialized vessels are currently being developed to bridge the gap between island-level collection and regional processing hubs. He emphasized that sea-going vessels designed specifically for waste transport are essential to ensure that materials managed on individual islands are safely moved to larger facilities. Of the three vessels, one has already been completed in India and is in the final stages of delivery. A technical team is scheduled to travel to India this week to conduct a final inspection before the ship is transported to Malé. Additionally, two specialized landing craft are under construction within the Maldives, with an expected completion date of July next year. These efforts are part of a broader national framework that integrates the establishment of atoll-based systems, waste-to-energy projects, and the acquisition of specialized logistics resources. The government's policy is anchored in the principles of a green and circular economy, aiming to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation while improving public health outcomes. To provide a legal foundation for these operations, waste management has been officially designated as a public utility service under the Waste Management Act. This legislative shift allows for more rigorous oversight and the implementation of key regulations, including the Single-Use Plastics Reduction Regulation and the Waste Management Service Provision Regulation. The Ministry is currently finalizing the procedures to publish these regulations in the Government Gazette, which will formalize the standards for waste services across the country.