The Noonu Atoll Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding for strategic and technical assistance from Soneva’s pioneering waste management NGO Soneva Namoona.
The council hopes to “adopt Soneva Namoona’s transformative approach to recycling and waste management to the islands of Noonu Atoll,” according to the luxury resort operator. The Namoona Sustainable Waste Management model focuses on island-level solutions such as reducing single-use plastics and properly segregating and sorting waste.
“We need to prioritise sustainable waste management to ensure that we preserve the natural beauty of our nation for future generations. To do this in the islands we need technical assistance. We are happy that this M.O.U. will pave way for N. Atoll to receive such assistance,” said Mohamed Basheer, President of the Noonu Atoll Council.
“We hope that more atolls will take us as an example and start their own sustainable waste management programmes across the Maldives.”
Katarzyna Maria Izydorczyk, Director of Soneva Namoona Operations and Community Engagement, said: “We are excited to embark on this journey with the proactive and ambitious Noonu Atoll Council to work together towards spreading and adapting more sustainable waste management processes and systems across the atoll.”
Soneva Namoona previously conducted ‘zero waste champion training’ in Noonu Atoll islands for waste segregation, processing and management. The NGO also provided waste compactors to the Kudafari, Lhohi and Magoodhoo islands to decrease the volume of waste for efficient storage and transportation.
On Kudafari, Soneva Namoona is setting up a water bottling facility that would provide drinking water in reusable 1-litre glass and large 18.9- litre reusable plastic bottles. The projects in Noonu Atoll builds on Soneva Namoona’s waste management work in Baa Atoll to reduce their use of plastics, improve waste segregation and recycling, and stop the open burning of garbage.
