This phase-out plan is a national initiative to phase-out the production, import and consumption of certain single-use plastics in the Maldives and promote the use of sustainable alternatives, in the effort to protect human health and the vulnerable marine environment of the country. In addition, by using strategic awareness and educational campaigns, the aim of this plan is to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics by nudging consumers to shift away from SUPs and towards more sustainable alternatives.
The single-use plastic phase-out plan comprises of 6 different policies, including ban of selected SUPs, implementing Market Based Instruments, strengthening data collection, introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), sustainable provision of alternatives as well as conducting education and awareness activities. Each policy and their underlying strategies address a different aspect of the fight against single-use plastic and the throw away culture that has developed within the Maldivian society over the years.
The convenience of single-use plastic is the main reason for the high consumption of SUP products. Most of the time SUPs end up as litter; contributing to the pollution of the environment and degradation of the aesthetic beauty of the country.
Policy 1 of this plan focuses on reduction of such waste by banning the import, production and sale of specific SUPs that have affordable alternatives available, as not to cause an inconvenience to the public, businesses as well as government agencies.
Policy 2 comprises of three main Market Based Instruments including implementation of tariffs, levies, incentives and business facilitations. This policy focuses on reduction in consumption and in turn the production and import of SUP products, as well as introducing and encouraging the use of sustainable alternatives in the Maldivian market. One of the main obstacles in developing the phase-out plan was the collection of data on the various types of SUPs that most commonly end up littering our environment. Import data of various SUPs were reviewed in order to support the estimated data of the waste produced by the distribution and consumption of SUPs by the Maldivian market.
Policy 3 focuses on setting future targets for plastic packaging reduction through improved data collection of imports.
Policy 4 (Extended Producer Responsibility) focuses on responsible collection mechanisms to be set up by business entities through mechanisms such as deposit refund system and other product stewardship programs.
Among the products that are currently allowed in the Maldivian market, the responsibility of managing or contributing to managing the waste generated once the end of the life cycle of the product is reached, will be placed on the business entities that benefit from the sale and profit of these SUPs.
Policy 5 involves the provision of sustainable alternatives and is directly linked to the duty exemption strategy of Policy 2. The main objective is to make the use of refillable water bottles convenient for the public, to ensure accessibility to water once bottled water less than 1 litre in size have been phased-out.
Policy 6 targets to educate the public regarding the products that will be banned or phased-out. Activities under Policy 6 also aims to make the public aware about the long- and short-term impact of single-use plastic on our environment as well as human health. The main objective of this policy is to help the public, government and business entities understand the potential positive impact of a collective effort to make a conscious choice to use eco-friendly alternatives instead of single-use plastics.
The single-use plastic phase-out plan aims to reduce the impact of single-use plastic on our environment, health and economy through implementation of the activities outlined under the six policies. Hence it is of great significance that the objectives of this plan are achieved through a coordinated effort by the implementing agencies, monitoring agencies and other stakeholders.
Source: Ministry of Environment, Maldives (2021). Single Use Plastic Phase Out Plan 2020-2023.
Muli is one of the 9 inhabited islands in Meemu atoll in the central Maldives. Like almost all island of Maldives, the Muli island is also vulnerable to environmental and economic development variables such as waste management, rising sea level, coastal erosion, pollution/depletion of groundwater. Traditionally, food waste is generally disposed to the shoreline while other organic waste was burnt in open fire and were seen as manageable in the context of a small community. However, with increased population and economic development activities associated with the island, the traditional waste management practices have become environmentally unsustainable.
The current waste management area in Muli was established in 2015, with an area of 0.24ha as Island Waste and Resource Management Centre (IWRMC), to manage island specific waste. Initially, the council did collect kitchen waste from the households with a charge of MVR 100 per month. However, due to financial constraints the council ceased its services to collect waste from household in 2018. The services were again resumed in 2019 with additional resources and a new fee structure. Kitchen waste was also collected and was outsourced to a private company for it to be disposed into deep sea.
Ministry of Environment, being the proponent of the project, through the Maldives Clean Environment Project (MCEP) intends to establish a full- fledged IWRMC and facilitate piloting of Anaerobic digestion (AD) as a means of treating organic waste generated in the island. The project involves construction of a 1.5-ton AD plant within the boundary of the existing IWRMC and undertaking additional civil work to upgrade the IWRMC. This decision was based on the findings of the technical and financial feasibility study for the establishment of a regional solid waste management system in Zone 4&5 (CITRES & MEECO, 2019).
The project will include construction of new infrastructure inclusive of an organic waste processing area. Once the infrastructure is in place, an anaerobic digestor plant will be set up at the facility to facilitate treatment of the organic waste. Upon completion of the project, the operations of the facility will be handed over to the Island Council. Training needs for the proper operation of the facility will be identified through the assessment and will also be incorporated into the report.
Source: LAMER Group (2021). Environmental and Social Management Plan for the upgrading of Island Waste and
The increase in solid waste volumes through an expanding tourism industry and changes in consumption patterns in Guyana has prompted steady improvement in the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Facility (HBSLF). The HBSLF is one of the most modern of its kind in the Caribbean. It is fully operational and uses best practices that includes waste segregation, leachate treatment, waste recovery, monitoring of leachate, surface/ ground water and air quality. Integrating best practices in landfill management will reduce health risks and pollution. The purpose of the case study was to share best practices at HBSLF that can be adapted for Caribbean countries.
Introduction
The Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Facility (HBSLF) is the largest landfill in Guyana. The landfill receives municipal solid waste (MSW), soils, construction/demolition, commercial and some pretreated hazardous waste from more than 25 neighbourhoods. The facility which was originally 300 acres was later reduced to 150 acres, to provide space for housing and industry.
Future prospects for Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill
Source: United Nations Environment Programme (2021). Compendium of case studies on solid waste management.
The theme of the Eko Red project, a green company, is “The circular economy: reuse, reuse and recycle” given that we are a company focused on the design and operation of a sustainable model that allows us to recycle post-industrial products into the supply chain through a circular economy model that includes recyclers, warehouses and factories; enabling the reduction of environmental impacts and generating a social transformation. As a subsidiary of Enka de Colombia, we have national recognition for contributing to sustainable progress, through the collection, separation, compaction and commercialization of recycled material, contributing to the decrease in the exploitation of natural resources and the generation of jobs.
Our Project
At Eko Red, we work each day to continue being the leader in the supply, processing and marketing of recycled PET bottles, thanks to the formation of a recycling network that generates alternatives to contribute to the economic, social and environmental strengthening of the country. Thanks to the experience acquired during the last 12 years, we have received national recognition for contributing to sustainable progress, through the collection of 3 million bottles a day, contributing to the conservation of the planet. Likewise, we have ventured into the recycling of other materials such as paper and cardboard for factories, generating a sustainable culture and increasing the recycling indicators.
PET bottles process
Objective: To establish the necessary activities to process recycled material at Eko Red and guarantee optimal delivery to the customer.
Scope: The process begins with the disposal of material received at the warehouse and ends with the shipment of compacted material to customers.
Definitions
Sack: in which items are packed.
Mechanical recycling: Mechanical process that consists in subjecting a previously used material to a total or partial processing cycle to obtain a raw material. The activities involved in this process are recovery, classification, compressing the material.
Material to Benefit: PET container that has a contaminating label for the PET production process.
Material benefited: PET container that has had its label or lid removed, a contaminant for the PET transformation process.
Prepared bales: PET material that is packed in bales and meets the PET transformation requirements, and is tied perfectly. Meets the client’s requirements.
Material to work: Bales or PET bottles that contain in a small proportion material that does not meet the PET transformation requirements, and must be classified. Material that needs to be compacted and packed.
Strategic direction
Mission
Eko Red is dedicated to the supply and commercialization of recycled material through a logistic network of use, maintaining the balance between economic growth, the environment and social welfare.
Vision
To be a competitive and sustainable company at national and international level, innovative in its processes and capable of dialogue in the environmental, social and economic fields.
Integrated management policy: Eko Red is dedicated to the supply and commercialization of recycled material, it is aimed at satisfying the needs of customers and stakeholders, continuous improvement of processes and compliance with legal requirements applicable to the company, with the support of a staff competent and trained, an adequate infrastructure for the provision of the service. We are committed to the management and prevention of environmental impacts, sustainable use of resources and social responsibility. The management of eko red, annually, will review the Management Policy, to ensure that it remains relevant and appropriate; with the purpose of improving the Integrated Management System, committing to provide the necessary means for it.
Values: At Eko Red we have values that reinforce our ethics and corporate philosophy, focused on good service and preservation of the environment: Respect, solidarity, responsibility, commitment, honesty, compliance and kindness.
Environmental education: We have a training program, visits and consultancies that allow us to strengthen relationships and spread the environmental message to different sectors of the country in an optimal way. We make trips to different departments, to contribute to the constant growth and development of each of our suppliers and allies, motivating them so that their financial interests go hand in hand with a real commitment to the environment, its employees and the community in general. Additionally, we inform them about regulatory changes, market movements and future challenges in exploitation issues. We receive visits from universities and companies interested in caring for the environment.
Environmental impact: Through the implementation of the Sustainable Production and Consumption Program, we are committed to optimizing natural resources and taking advantage of solid waste.
Source/Image source: United Nations Environment Programme (2021). Compendium of case studies on solid waste management.
