Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) announced it will procure 2 million bin liners to sell at affordable prices to general consumers.
According to the corporation, this decision was taken to address the rising prices of plastic bags following the amendment to the Waste Management Act. Meanwhile, many have criticized the move as they are required to pay the fee for each time they bought plastic bags for garbage disposals.
WAMCO will purchase the bags from Leesa Maldives, the only local company to produce plastic bags and bin liners.
The Managing Director at WAMCO, Yoosuf Siraj said that the corporation will commission the production of 2 million bags for its use, and additional bags will be required in the future. The bin liners will be made available to purchase from retail outlets soon.
Customers will be able to purchase bin liners from WAMCO main building’s front office and from the front offices of waste transfer stations in Male’, Vilimale’, and Hulhumale’.
The Maldives government began charging a fee of MVR2.00 on plastic bags under the Waste Management Act on Tuesday last week.
The act specifies that plastic bag fees will not be charged on bin liners sold by waste management corporations. The act further exempts bags used for packing fresh and raw fish or fish products, and bags issued from duty-free shops.