MOPA unveils project to collect empty PET bottles from resorts

Maldives Ocean Plastics Alliance (MOPA) has unveiled its new project to collect empty PET bottles from resorts.

Unveiled yesterday, in conjunction with the successful completion of the first year of their ‘Plastic Reverse Logistics Project’ – MOPA said that the new project is an expansion of the aforesaid project in order to combat plastic waste pollution in the Maldives.

MOPA detailed that the purpose of ‘Resort PET Collection Project’ is to collect and recycle empty PET bottles from more than 150 tourist resorts operating across the country.

Launched on December 10, the ‘Plastic Reverse Logistic Project’ is carried out by MOPA in collaboration with Happy Market Private Limited (bottlers of ‘Life’ mineralized water), Male’
Aerated Water Company Limited (bottlers of ‘Coca-Cola’ beverages) and Island Beverages Maldives (bottlers of ‘Taza’ mineralized water) who are voluntarily implementing extended
producer responsibility in the Maldives.

Initially, the project involved the regulation of daily post-consumer collection of PET bottles from over 120 retail outlets, including eateries, restaurants and cafés in the Greater Male’ Area. As the project marks one year since launch, it has expanded to cover 263 outlets with over 30,000kg PET bottles being collected in the span of a year.

MOPA plans on expanding the project to over 300 outlets, including that of those in Addu City.

The ‘Plastic Reverse Logistics Project’ alongside the ‘Resort PET Collection Project’ is expected to collect at least 150,000kg of PET bottles from across the country on an annual basis. It is also aimed at promoting the management of plastic waste responsibly through behavioral changes.

Collected empty PET bottles under both projects are handed over to Parley Maldives to be recycled and upcycled into everyday items like Adidas sneakers.