Issue: As our lifestyles have changed, so too have our waste streams. Wastes are no longer just composed of organic materials; they also are made from metals, plastics and hazardous wastes. Also, we are producing a lot more waste. This means that dumping mixed waste around our islands at different places on the beach or forest, or burning it, is no longer effective in removing waste from our islands. These new wastes do not breakdown quickly, so the wastes remain on our islands for longer, potentially affecting our health, environment and livelihoods.
Poor waste management practices can impact our health:(i) mosquitoes can breed in water collected in tins, cans and plastics and contribute to the spread of mosquito borne diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya, (ii) rotting organic matters attracts vectors such as rats and crows, (iii) burning of plastics and wet organics can cause local air pollution that can be inhaled by the island inhabitants, and (iv) long term buried waste can contaminate ground water potentially affecting the quality of water in wells.
Poor waste management practices can also affect our economy: (i) waste floating in the seas, on the reefs or swept onto beaches is not attractive and impacts on the image of the Maldives environment as a pristine environment, especially for the tourism industry, (ii) waste floating in the seas can also damage boats (e.g. stuck in propellers) and (iii) chemicals from waste dumped at sea may contaminate marine life and fish stocks, a risk to seafood industries.
Poor waste management practices can also affect our land and marine environments: (i) waste dumped on the beach can pollute the water and spread it to other islands; (ii) non biodegradable plastics can be ingested by animals such as turtles, birds, dolphins, whales etc, and (iii) burying wastes such as batteries and nappies can also pollute the groundwater.
Strategic approach: This message theme aims to create awareness of the environmental, social and economic impacts of poor waste management practices and explain why waste management is so important, by promoting the benefits of good waste management practices:

1. Protects the fragile environment;
2. Reduces contamination of groundwater; andSupports the livelihood of island communities through protecting the reef.

Messages to be promoted under this message theme: