The newly developed Malé Waste Transfer Station has been inaugurated.

Vice President Faisal Naseem officially inaugurated the Malé Waste Transfer Station located in the Industrial Village of Malé City during a ceremony held on Monday.

Developed by the incumbent administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as part of its commitment to proper waste management, the station is expected to play a vital role in managing waste across the congested capital city.

Taking the podium at the event, VP Naseem addressed the rising concerns surrounding the issue of waste management in the Greater Malé Region and stressed that presently, every individual produces one kilogram of waste per day which in turn results in a massive quantity of waste output every single day.

Shedding light on the significance of avoiding littering the ocean, beaches and other public areas, VP Naseem urged the public to significantly reduce waste production.

He went on to state that one of the most crucial elements of a civilized society is the cleanliness of the environment, adding that it is the united responsibility of all to reduce waste generation and to do more to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

In his address the vice president also shed light on the correlation between the Maldivian economy and the environment, stressing that the sustenance of the tourism sector of the island nation depends strongly on the cleanliness of reefs, lagoons and beaches.

VP Naseem stressed that the improper disposal of trash and plastic in the ocean and on beaches can have severe consequences, as plastic harms reefs and endangers human health.

The vice president went on to stress on the importance of responsible waste management to protect both the environment and the economy.

Highlighting that the incumbent administration places high priority to the proper management of waste and safe disposal, VP Naseem noted that with the completion of the administration’s waste management initiatives in the Greater Malé Region, waste will become a valuable commodity that can help generate wealth.

Further, he acknowledged the efforts to stop burning waste on Thilafushi Island as well as the efforts being made towards proper waste management across the scatter of islands comprising the Maldives.

Spanning across 65,000 square feet, the newly developed station is a state-of-the-art facility equipped with modern amenities to address the ever-present issues of waste management and transportation to Thilafushi Island.

Designed to be environmentally friendly and as per international standards, the facility is equipped with mechanisms to transport waste to Thilafushi Island in packed containers, preventing spillage. The facility’s administrative structure was constructed to withstand natural calamities and adverse weather conditions as well, which will ensure its continued operation in the face of natural occurrences.