Hazardous waste and chemical storage centre to be developed in in Raa atoll Vandhoo

The government has awarded a contract to develop a hazardous waste and chemical storage facility in Raa atoll Vandhoo.

In a statement, the Ministry of Environment said that an agreement had been signed with Wee Hour Investment Pvt Ltd to construct the facility under a design-and-build contract.

The storage centre will be developed at the existing Regional Waste Management Facility in Vandhoo and is expected to be completed within 10 months at a cost of MVR 18.5 million.

The ministry said that Maldives currently faces major challenges in the safe disposal of hazardous waste and chemicals due to the absence of proper facilities.

The new storage centre aims to bridge this gap by providing a safe, centralized location for hazardous waste collected across the country before being exported for environmentally friendly disposal.

According to the ministry, the initiative is part of “Eliminating Persistent Organic Pollutants through Sound Management of Chemicals” project launched in 2020 with the support of the Global Environment Facility and implemented in partnership with UNDP.

The project seeks to establish a legal and regulatory framework for the management of hazardous chemicals and waste imported into Maldives.

The new facility will allow for the environmentally responsible storage of expired chemicals, e-waste, and hazardous waste generated by various sectors, including tourism and construction.

The Ministry said this development is crucial for ensuring safe handling and containment of such materials before they are sent abroad for proper disposal.