Council clears 263 tons of waste from Male’ streets in 17 days

City council workers collected over 263 tons of waste, equivalent of five football fields, from the streets of the capital, Male’ City, over the last 17 days.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim said that the 263.5 tons of waste collected over the last 17 days includes 38 tons of waste on Tuesday alone.

“This is 10.54 25-feet containers of waste,” said Azim, expressing concern over the sheer volume of waste thrown out on the streets in recent days.

According to information released by the city council, it collected According to the council, it collected 30 pickups of waste on Tuesday. This includes:

(14) 350-kilo pickups

(1) 1.5-ton pickup

(14) two-ton pickups

(1) four-ton pickup

މާލޭ މަގުމަތިން މިއަދާއި މިރޭ ކުނި ނެގުނު އަދަދު

350 ކިލޯގެ 14 ޕިކަޕު
1.5 ޓަނުގެ 1 ޕިކަޕު
2 ޓަނުގެ 14 ޕިކަޕު
4 ޓނުގެ 1 ޕިކަޕު

ޖުމުލަ 38 ޓަނުގެ ކުނި pic.twitter.com/ubaIQRmxbY

— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) March 12, 2024

Discarded furniture and old household appliances had been dumped on doorsteps and pavements as families cleaned their homes ahead of Ramadan, hindering pedestrian movement.

The discarded items range from sofas to gas cookers to pots and pans.

On Wednesday, Mayor Azim urged people not to throw waste out on the street.

“I ask that streets not be made dumps. Keeping places of residence and the surrounding environment clean will create a pleasant experience for all,” he wrote.

“I pray that we all nurture a love for cleanliness. Amen.”

ޖަންބުމަގުގައި ހުރި ކުނިތައް ނަގާ ސާފުކުރުން ކުރިއަށް ދަނީ pic.twitter.com/3P3lEbgkgN

— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) March 13, 2024

Following public concern over the situation, the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) and Male’ City Council initiated joint efforts to collect the waste. On Sunday, WAMCO announced it will provide free waste collection services from transfer stations until end of Wednesday. But this does not apply to wet waste and construction waste.

The entry free and disposal charge on vehicles used by members of general public to carry waste will also be waived during the period.