Ministry of Environment on Tuesday contracted Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) with procuring a landfill compactor for the garbage island of Thilafushi in Kaafu Atoll.
Environment Minister Dr Hussain Rasheed Hassan and MTCC's General Manager Shifau Ali signed the agreement at a ceremony held at the ministry. The government awarded MTCC the project for MVR 9,665,000.
Addressing the press, Dr Hussain declared that waste compaction would commence around February 2020.
"We're bringing this machine to compact the waste accumulated over the past twenty, twenty-five years, at least as a temporary solution", he said.
The minister highlighted that waste compaction would also help to solve the issue of open burning of waste in Thilafushi. He assured that the flames which have been burning for several years in Thilafushi would be put out, thus curbing the noxious fumes from the landfill that affect the neighbouring islands of Villimale' and capital Male' City.
Dr Hussain further noted that approximately 500 tonnes of waste are dumped daily at Thilafushi, collected from the greater Male' region and nearby resorts. He assured that the government is working to bring in more machines and equipment for proper waste sorting and management.
The current administration has pledged to establish waste management facilities in Thilafushi over the next four years, including industrial devices such as car crushers.
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