The Waste Management Bill has been amended to allow waste to be brought into the Maldives to produce energy. The Parliament of the Maldives passed the bill in November.
The Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Climate Change included some crucial amendments during its review, including allowing waste to be brought into the Maldives on certain conditions. The bill initially included a clause banning any import of waste to the country. However, the committee included the amendment to allow the country to bring in waste, as many countries now consider waste a resource for producing energy.
The committee noted that many countries have been utilising waste and that the Maldives should also have the option of bringing in waste for projects or in cases where the country does not have enough waste for waste-to-energy production. As such, the committee included the amendment dictating that waste can be imported upon approval from the relevant ministry in accordance with the regulations.
Waste-to-energy plants are being developed in Thilafushi, Kaafu Atoll. and Addu City.