The Maldives has inaugurated its first specialised waste recovery facility in Kulhudhuffushi City. The initiative also sets the stage for Kulhudhuffushi to become the nation’s first urban centre free from plastic waste.
The Material Recovery Facility was developed through a collaboration between the Maldives Authentic Crafts Cooperative Society (MACCS), the Kulhudhuffushi City Council, and the state-owned Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO). It is part of the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE Project), an environmental programme led by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP).
At the opening ceremony, Norbu Wangchuk, Director-General of SACEP, highlighted the Maldives’ vulnerability to environmental challenges and stressed the importance of marine conservation. He described the facility as a transformative step for the region and expressed optimism that sustained cooperation could help make Kulhudhuffushi the country’s first plastic-free city.
The centre is the first in the Maldives dedicated exclusively to safe waste management. Its operations will be overseen by WAMCO under a formal agreement with MACCS and the City Council. According to MACCS Chairperson Aminath Abdulla, the facility is designed to provide a systematic and sustainable framework for waste disposal. Waste collected from across the island will be sorted on site, with particular attention to plastics, which will be compressed and baled using specialised equipment.
The facility is equipped to prepare recyclable materials such as plastic and aluminium for further processing. Its infrastructure includes two baling machines, a hydraulic pallet stacker, a hydraulic pallet truck, and four pickup trucks to support waste collection and transport. In line with sustainability goals, the complex is partially powered by solar panels.
Beyond technical systems, the centre also features an office, pantry, and prayer room for staff. Workers have been provided with protective gear, and WAMCO employees have received project-specific training to ensure efficient operation of the facility.
Officials expect the centre to significantly strengthen waste management practices in Kulhudhuffushi once fully operational. The project is among several initiatives led by MACCS to reduce plastic waste nationwide. The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior representatives from MACCS, WAMCO, the City Council, and various local associations, underlining broad institutional support for the venture.
