Male' left a dump after households cleaned for Ramadan

Disposal of garbage following the cleaning of houses in approach of the month of Ramadan has left the streets of Male' looking like a wasteyard.

Cleaning and reconditioning houses due the approach of Ramadan is a long standing practice within the community. Items utilized amid cleaning and repainting alongside old discarded furniture during the replacement of such units in the house, are all discarded outside in alleyways or on streets.

Currently, the roads and intersections of Male' are trashed with the disposal of such items while these waste items have remained unattended on some streets for nearly a week.

Photos of the streets shot by Mihaaru News also displays garbage discarded onto the pavements of some streets, resulting in obstructed pavements, impeding pedestrians.

Various locations across the city are filled with items such as old couches, bed parts and ovens amongst many trashed onto the streets. While sacks of garbage have been disposed outside, perishable food waste emanating from households in the area are also disposed inside these sacks every day.

While the most traffic heavy roads in Male' such as Sosun Magu and Chaandhanee Magu also observe garbage disposed on the streets, packaging of general home appliances such as refrigerators and televisions are also discarded over the pavements of these streets.

Consequently, a large pile of such garbage is lined across the intersection of Koarukendi Magu and Raaveri Hingun in Male' to an extend the people coming in and out of houses are obligated to walk through these piles of trash. While the entire road has been scattered with such garbage due to unattended removal, more garbage continues to be discarded in this area.

In review of the Male' City Industrial Zone, garbage has been packed full in various areas of this zone. Industrial Zone accommodates the garbage disposal site of Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO). However, regardless of this, a large pile of rubbish has been discarded nearby this site as well, including empty cardboard boxes, garbage bags and old furniture removed from households.

An individual speaking from this area alleged that households discard garbage into this area due to their refusal to pay the fee warranted by WAMCO for their garbage disposal services.

Speaking to Mihaaru News in address of the escalated waste congestion on city streets, Mayor of Male' City Council, Adam Azim assured that garbage disposal procedures are being employed by the Council. He had further highlighted concerns due to the continuous disposal of garbage onto the streets equivalent to the trash removed by the Council each day.

Nevertheless, Azim stated that efforts are being implemented in collaboration with Maldives Police Force and had further remarked that additional lorries required for the disposal have also been deployed.

"Each time we remove it, the next day, there is just more there again. Continuous disposal of garbage after cleaning houses for Ramadan. However, additional lorries have been deployed today and waste removal procedures are presently being ensued."

Azim had stated that this waste congestion is a result of Maldivians hiring expat workers to dispose their garbage with minimal pay.