An amendment bill has been proposed to remove the clause in the Waste Management Act that allows the import of waste. The Bill on the Amendment to the Waste Management Act was proposed by Parliamentarian Mohamed Rashid proposed on behalf of the government.
The Waste Management Act was ratified in December 2022 and allows the government to monitor the production and management of waste as well as regulate the waste produced by businesses in various industries including tourism. The public has expressed concern over a clause included in the act that allows the Maldives to import waste and the amendment bill aims to address the concerns by banning the import of waste.
Additionally, the bill aims to establish sustainable waste management policies that are in accordance with the government as well as clearly define the responsibilities of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and utility regulatory authorities. The bill also consists of guidelines on testing and certifying waste management resources and approving land plots for waste management centres.