LocationsStrengthening Waste Management in the Maldives: Milestones in the Maldives Plastics Circularity Project
November 25, 2025
Fleet of electric vehicles provided by TCCF under the project.
25 November 2025, Malé, Maldives: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Maldives, in partnership with Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO) of the Maldives and supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), has marked a significant milestone in advancing sustainable waste management practices in the Maldives.
The Maldives Plastics Circularity Project, part of a broader regional initiative supported by TCCF, spanning ten countries in Asia, aims to enhance WAMCO’s operational capacity through the provision of 31 electric vehicles, to improve collection efficiency and ensure safer, more sustainable waste management practices.
Carlos Pagoaga, President of the Coca-Cola Foundation noted, “Collaboration is key to help improve waste management systems and strengthen recycling infrastructure. The Coca-Cola Foundation aims to advance solutions that help reduce packaging waste, including supporting better collection practices and enhancing processing capabilities. This approach contributes to long-term improvements in local communities and the broader environment.”
WAMCO, UNDP and INSWA/TCCF Representatives at the vehicle handover ceremony.
The handover event at WAMCO’s Transfer Station highlighted the operational impact of these investments. WAMCO’s Managing Director Mujuthaba Jaleel emphasized, “These vehicles will enhance WAMCO’s daily collection operations by improving efficiency and reducing emissions. The support helps us modernize our services and better serve communities in Malé and Maafushi.”
Beyond infrastructure, the project is deeply rooted in community engagement. A mission from The Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia (INSWA) team who visited the Maldives for the handover, interacted with civil society organizations and local councils, sharing knowledge and best practices for community-led plastic waste reduction solutions. These interactions aim to strengthen local capacities and ensure more sustainable plastic recycling efforts.
WAMCO and UNDP staff at the Maafushi site visit.
The field visit of the mission to Maafushi island further showcased the tangible results of the initiative. Community-led waste reduction and recycling activities are helping to reduce environmental impacts, build skills, and foster a sense of shared responsibility among residents. By connecting these island-level innovations to the regional Asia-Pacific initiative, the project amplifies both local and broader impact.
One of the electric vehicle drivers from WAMCO in Maafushi.
A key highlight of the mission was the clean-energy transformation underway at the Maafushi Waste Centre, where major solar upgrades supported under the Maldives Plastics Circularity Project will significantly modernize operations.
Currently powered entirely by diesel – with high monthly energy needs for sorting, office functions, and other essential services – the facility faces limitations that affect both efficiency and service expansion. The project aims to change this by 2026 through:
- Installing rooftop solar systems on two main buildings
- Deploying a total 33 kWp of solar capacity
- Generating an estimated 49,000 kWh of renewable energy annually
These upgrades will reduce diesel dependence, provide stable and cleaner power for operations, enable reinvestment into better services, lower emissions, and serve as a scalable model for renewable-powered island waste facilities across the Maldives.
Teams from WAMCO, UNDP and INSWA/TCCF in Maafushi.
“This partnership represents a pivotal step toward strengthening national systems for plastic reduction, while empowering communities to take an active, leading role in sustainable waste management. By uniting operational improvements with capacity building, training, and genuine community engagement, we are establishing a forward-looking framework that drives sustainable, island-level waste management while also advancing clean-energy innovation across the Maldives,” said Adnan Cheema, UNDP Resident Representative in the Maldives.
Together, UNDP, WAMCO, and TCCF are advancing the Maldives’ waste management priorities, contributing to national efforts to reduce plastic leakage, and building a cleaner, more resilient future for communities across the country.
Signboard announcing the major solar upgrades supported under the Maldives Plastics Circularity Project in Maafushi WAMCO waste site.