Developing an EPR scheme for plastic and packaging waste in the Maldives

The Republic of Maldives covers over 1,000 coral islands whereby land area accounts for only about 1% of the country’s territory. This unique natural feature holds highly biodiverse ecosystems and serves as wave breaks that help prevent inundation on low-lying islands. The coral atolls, as well as other marine flora and fauna of the Maldives’ seas, are under pressure from both an increasing amount of littered plastic wastes as well as from unsafe (plastic) waste management practices. To address this situation, the government of the Maldives is in the process of mainstreaming and further developing its waste management policies. Following a Strategic Action Plan (2019-2023) and a single-use plastic (SUP) phase-out plan, the government seeks to integrate principles of Extended Producer Responsability (EPR) by drafting appropriate legislation based on a wide policy mix. By supporting the Maldivian government in developing an EPR scheme focused on the internalisation of environmental costs and incentives creation for innovative practices, the project will pave the way for circular economy practice and safely managing plastics at the end-of-life. In the long run, this shift of responsibility from consumers to producers may shrink the number of plastic products and packaging in circulation due to alternative and more innovative solutions, leading to less pressure on waste management systems. Additionally, raising awareness among producers and consumers of plastic products as well as policy decision-makers will curb open littering and ocean dumping. This project will thus aid the achievement of SDG 14.1 by substantially decreasing marine pollution and protecting marine life. The project is structured in three main outcomes: Outcome 1: Knowledge base on plastic and packaging waste management is improved: The project will enhance the knowledge base on plastic and packaging waste management in the Maldives, thus providing decision-support to policy makers and entrepreneurs from the private sector for establishing a regulated waste management system. Outcome 2: Stakeholder eco-system is activated and has increased understanding of EPR: The project will engage a wide range of stakeholders from the public sector, private sector and civil society to improve their understanding of EPR, ensure ownership and discuss their roles and responsibilities within the emerging scheme. Outcome 3: EPR scheme for plastic and packaging waste is created and ready for transposition into national law: Based on technical inputs collected during multilateral and bilateral stakeholder consultations, the project will design an innovation-stimulating EPR scheme for plastic and packaging waste and enable the Ministry of Environment (MoE) to transpose it into national law.