President Ratifies Waste Management Law Amendment to Tighten Environmental Enforcement

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the first amendment to the Waste Management Act, introducing stricter enforcement mechanisms, updated infrastructure requirements, and significant changes to plastic bag charges. The amendment, passed by the Maldivian Parliament on August 17, focuses on the systemic improvement of waste disposal across the archipelago. It mandates the establishment of formal waste management systems and centers on all inhabited islands, as well as in areas leased for industrial or economic purposes. To ensure these standards are met, the Utility Regulatory Authority (URA) is now tasked with the verification and monitoring of compliance. One of the most critical shifts in the law involves environmental protection and public health. The Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA) is now empowered to formulate regulations and impose fines on individuals or entities that violate waste management practices enforced by the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy. These penalties will specifically target violations that cause harm to the environment or jeopardize public health. In a move to streamline commerce and remove double taxation, the amendment eliminates the USD 0.13 charge previously applied to plastic bags provided at the point of sale. Additionally, bundles containing more than 50 plastic bags are now exempt from such charges. To safeguard the islands from external pollution, the law now classifies the importation of waste into the Maldives as a criminal offense. Furthermore, the unauthorized sale, use, or distribution of hazardous waste without a permit from the ERA will be treated as a punishable offense. The legislation also clarifies the jurisdictional boundaries between the URA and the ERA to avoid bureaucratic overlap. It further mandates that any waste generated outside the jurisdiction of an inhabited island must be transported to a designated waste management center on an inhabited island for proper processing. All necessary regulations stemming from this amendment must be published in the Government Gazette within 30 days. The law took effect immediately upon ratification and publication.