Ending Plastic Pollution and Solving the Waste Management Crisis

These photos were taken randomly on the streets of Malé.

The Maldives is under the threat of being submerged by rising sea levels due to climate change. As a nation, we have slowly taken many steps to ensure the future of this country’s existence, but are we doing enough?

For the Maldives, adopting a sustainable waste management system is important. It is not just an option for us but an imperative step to safeguard the country’s future. However, the country has poorly management of waste and plastic, which could be the biggest downfall of this idyllic country.

Plastic pollution is the Maldives is one of the biggest issues in the Maldives. Since last year, as part of the strategic plan formulated by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, the import of eight types of single-use plastics were banned. This phase-out plan is an initiative to completely phase out the production, import and consumption of certain single use plastics into the Maldives.

Instead, the initiative will promote the use of sustainable alternatives to protect the population and marine life in the Maldives.

Following this plan, the government followed through with the first phase to ban the production and sales of single-use plastic in June. By 2023, the government hopes to completely phase out single-use plastics.

The damage that chemical and plastic pollution has done to the environment has been well document. Most of the plastic waste are generally burned out in the open, as landfills are not possible in a nation with rising sea levels and small landmass. The only operational landfill is on the manmade island, Thilafushi. The amount of waste generated in the Maldives is not enough and exceeds its capacity.

Currently, the total plastic footprint in the Maldives is about 12 percent of the total waste produced in the country, which is about 43,134 tons a year. Even when the different types of wastes are segregated, plastic waste is most likely to be mismanaged.

We are not immune from plastic pollution. Due to the mismanagement of plastic and waste in general, this threatens the public health, air quality, as well as the tourism industry.

Public loitering of plastic, cardboard boxes, and random items on the streets of Malé, Hulhumalé and many other islands are an issue in the Maldives.

It is imperative to start tackling the problems of plastic pollution and waste management in the Maldives right now. Time is of the essence when it comes to reverse the actions before the threat of sea levels rise.

#thedangersofplasticpollution