Waste Management Maldives
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Based on a feasibility study prepared by KOCKS ENGINEERS in 2017, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved funding of 140 million US dollars to improve waste management in the Maldives. Phase 1, with a volume of USD 40 million, will initially focus on improving waste logistics (collection, transport, transfer, pre-treatment) in the greater Male’ area. In phase 2, a waste incineration plant is to be built and operated as a DBO (Design-Build and Operate) in accordance with international standards.
KOCKS ENGINEERS and their local partner Water Solutions were then commissioned by the Maldivian Ministry of Environment for the catchment area of the capital Malé (Male‘, Hulhumale’, Velana airport island, Vilimale’, Gulifalhu and Thilafushi industrial islands) as well as the northern, southern and western atolls around the capital, and western atolls around the capital with measures to develop a collection and transport system, the design and construction supervision of several transfer stations and the reorganisation of the waste recycling island of Thilafushi, located 10 km off Malé (phase 1 from 2019 to 2023).
In 2021, suitable engineering measures were taken to extinguish the landfill fire on Thilafushi, the smoke from which had previously severely affected the population of the capital Malé and the tourism industry. At the same time, a new 900 m long jetty, a 30,000 m² concrete operating area and various operating and workshop buildings were constructed. The employees of the waste management company were comprehensively instructed and trained in the use of the new facility and the overall waste management concept for Malé.
On Malé and the neighbouring island of Vilimale’, the design, tendering and construction supervision of waste transfer stations and associated infrastructure measures were implemented. In addition, the entire procurement of the technically required infrastructure (collection and transfer containers, vehicles, ships) with a total volume of 10 million US dollars was implemented and supervised by KOCKS ENGINEERS and Water Solutions.
The centrepiece of the waste management system on the main island of Malé is a two-storey waste transfer station, where both municipal waste vehicles and small private suppliers can dispose of their waste. The transfer station was dimensioned for a waste volume of approx. 500 tonnes per day (approx. 70 % household waste/household waste-like, approx. 30 % building rubble/construction waste). After pre-compaction, a container-based transfer by ship to Thilafushi takes place. The separately collected recyclable materials such as plastic, paper and cardboard are then baled and temporarily stored on Thilafushi.
On the island of Vandhoo in Raa Atoll, in the north of the country, KOCKS ENGINEERS and Water Solutions established a smaller pilot plant for a waste-to-energy facility (World Bank project) between 2012 and 2015.
The waste management system of the main region is urgently awaiting the completion of a corresponding large-scale plant on Thilafushi, which the ADB is implementing in the second phase of the project.
KOCKS ENGINEERS have been active in the waste management sector in the Maldives for more than 10 years now. Through the long-standing partnership with Water Solutions and the trustful cooperation with the Ministry of Environment as a client, KOCKS ENGINEERS have been able to continuously follow and shape the development of the Maldives towards an integrated and developed waste management system.
A feasibility study carried out by KOCKS ENGINEERS and financed by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency/Abu Dhabi Fund) at three locations in the country in 2016 and a feasibility study with preliminary design as part of the EU’s Climate Change Adaptation Programme in Addu City in the south (2015-2016) have also led to the financing of further infrastructure measures to improve waste management. In parallel to the 2017 feasibility study in Greater Male‘, the Ministry commissioned KOCKS ENGINEERS to draw up the conceptual planning for the closure of the Thilafushi landfill and the transfer stations in Male’, Hulumale‘ and Vilimale’.