Waste to Wealth Management in the Maldives
The small coral islands of the Maldives are among the most beautiful locations on our planet. While they may seem fragile, their ecosystems have actually developed over thousands of years into some of the most complex reef systems in the world.
What many tourists don’t see when they visit the Maldives is that local islands are facing a very modern threat – the scourge of marine plastic litter which washes up on beaches and smothers coral reefs.
Tackling a problem that recognises no physical limits requires an innovative approach. That’s why we have been supporting Soneva Namoona since it’s launch in 2019, a partnership between Soneva Fushi, and their three neighbouring island communities of Maalhos, Dharavandhoo and Kihaadhoo.
The Namoona Baa initiative has reached new milestones since our last visit in 2019 with four more islands in Baa Atoll now working with Soneva Namoona to pilot a sustainable waste management system that can be adopted throughout the Maldives.
Namoona Baa sees the islands of Maalhos, Dharavandhoo, and Kihaadhoo in the Baa atoll pledging to end the open burning of island waste, in a radical shift towards eco-friendly waste management. The pledge was made by the presidents of Maalhos, Dharavandhoo, and Kihaadhoo island councils, during a workshop on waste held at Soneva Fushi on January 5-8, 2019.
To end the practice of the open burning of waste, which poses a health and environmental hazard and damages tourism, each island will create an ‘eco-centro’ waste-to-wealth centre that will sort, recycle and reuse island waste.
“A good waste management system, which compliments local lifestyles of small developing communities, is the most necessary solution that our isolated islands need. This ongoing collaborative initiative of Soneva Namoona, implemented with these seven islands, represents a huge success and advancement in our waste management systems. Soneva Namoona has demonstrated an effective alternative approach to one of our biggest concerns.” Ibrahim Abdul Rahman - Kendhoo Island Council President
For lack of other options, island communities burn their garbage in toxic open bonfires. In February 2020, Soneva Namoona celebrated a Maldives’ first: Maalhos become the first island in the country to end the practice of open burning. This was made possible by a concerted effort by the local community to segregate waste and the opening of Maalhos Eco Centro, a waste-to wealth recycling centre funded by Soneva and modelled on Soneva Fushi’s own Eco Centro.
In response to a huge surge in interest in gardening during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Soneva Namoona team created a beginners gardening course to help communities and individuals around the world manage their food waste and grow delicious fresh food.
“Namoona” refers to something that is exemplary, ideal, an exception. The lighthouse communities of Soneva Namoona shine a path for island communities all around the world.
