Waste Management

Waste management is handled by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Maldives Government.

There are waste management systems, sewerage systems and erosion mitigation measures such as near-shore breakwaters and groynes operating in the Maldives. The waste management infrastructure’s location within close proximity to the coastline makes it highly vulnerable to sea level rise and storm conditions. 90% of the islands have their waste disposal sites within 100m of the coastline and on the ocean-ward side of the island, and although this is a serious issue in regards to sea-level rise, pollution and protection of biodiversity resources, the geography leaves few alternatives. Pollution from uncontrolled waste disposal and untreated sewage are major threats to the biodiversity of the Maldives. Considering the country's reliance on tourism as a key economic sector, and tourism industry’s reliance on environmental health to operate and be profitable, the challenge of waste management is a key vulnerability for that sector and for the country as a whole. One waste management trend has been open burning of waste to reduce volume, which, owing to the lack of other disposal options, has become widely common in the Maldives, though it raises challenges for maintaining air quality.