Environmental and social management plan : establishment of island waste resource management centre with aerobic technology using composting machine at Gan, Lamu Atoll

Abstract

Gan is one of the 11 inhabited islands in Laamu atoll in the southern Maldives. Similar to almostall island of Maldives, the island is vulnerable to environmental and economic development variables such as rising sea level, coastal erosion, pollution/depletion of groundwater andunmanaged waste. A waste management centre was constructed at the northeastern side of the island, through the UNDP LECReD Project and waste disposal is at this site. The council has also now established a waste collection service from all households and institutions. All waste including the household waste is disposed at this site, although kitchen waste is disposed to sea on that side of the island. However, the centre does not have any machinery and equipment for management of inorganic waste and all waste which can be burnt are disposed through open burning at the site. Hence, the Ministry of Environment, being the proponent of the project, through the World Bank funded Maldives Clean Environment Project (MCEP), intends to establish a full- fledged Island Waste Resource Management Centre (IWRMC) and facilitate piloting of in-vessel composting in Gan based on the findings of the technical and financial feasibility study for establishing a regional solid waste management system in Zone 4 & 5, phase 1 of which was completed in the last quarter of 2019. The project will include construction of new infrastructure inclusive of a mechanical composting area. Once the infrastructure is in place, an Organic Waste Converter (OWC) machine will be set up at the facility to facilitate mechanical composting of the waste using aerobic technology. Upon completion of the project, the operations of the facility will be handed over to the Island Council. Training needs for the proper operation of the facility will be identified through the assessment and will also be incorporated into the report.