Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Maldives Fact Sheet

The Challenge

The Maldives generates over 750 tons of waste each day and, as an island nation, faces a unique set of challenges in managing a rapidly growing volume of waste across its more than 1,200 islands approximately 200 of which are inhabited. Given its geography and a host of other unique challenges—which include an extremely limited amount of land to store waste and being home to one of the most densely populated cities in the world—the country has been overwhelmed to not only manage its own domestic waste, but also the marine debris generated from other countries that is carried in by currents.

The Maldives’ total land area (115 sq mi) makes it the smallest country in Asia, although it is one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world, spread over almost 35,000 square miles—roughly the area equivalent to the country of Portugal. This dispersion has proven to be extremely challenging for solid waste management, and has led to a number of models being deployed that range from central and regional waste management dump sites, hybrid systems for resorts, and a series of informal practices for local communities. While some have operated with success, coordinated system development and implementation, increased local government capacity, and strengthened and alternative markets for recycled and reusable products are required to reverse current environmental impacts that threaten community health, natural resources, and the country’s tourism industry which contributes over 30% of the Maldives’ GDP.