Male' City Council raises alarm over growing garbage pileup after fire

The Male’ City Council has lodged complaints with WAMCO over the growing piles of garbage across the capital following delays in waste collection after the recent fire at the company’s Thilafushi waste management site.

A fire broke out at WAMCO’s Thilafushi area on Sunday night and was extinguished the following morning.

In a statement issued last Wednesday, WAMCO said parts of their Thilafushi site had been closed due to the fire. As a result, the company has had to reduce the amount of waste accepted from its transfer facilities in Male’, Villimale and Hulhumale.

Since then, the council said on Tuesday, garbage has been accumulating in streets and public squares. It noted that the city is facing major challenges due to the absence of a permanent system to dispose of waste collected from streets, parks and open spaces.

The area used by the council for temporary dumping is now full, and waste has not been transported to Thilafushi for about ten days.

މާލެ ސިޓީގެ ކުނި އުކުމުގެ ޒިންމާއާ ޙަވާލުވެފައިވާ ވެމްކޯއިން، 2026 ޖުލައި މަހުގެ 19ވަނަ ދުވަހުން ފެށިގެން ކުނި އުކުމުގެ ޚިދުމަތް މެދުކެނޑައިފައި އޮތުމުގެ ސަބަބުން،މާލެ ސިޓީގައި ދިރިއުޅުއްވާ ރައްޔިތުންގެ ޝަކުވާތަކާއި ކަންބޮޑުވުން މި ކައުންސިލަށް ހުށަޅަމުންދާތީ، މާލެ ސިޓީގެ… pic.twitter.com/TUoVnFIgXv

— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) July 28, 2026

Eleven councillors visited WAMCO and met the company’s HR General Manager Mohamed Shan. According to the council, Shan said he would consult with the company’s managing director to find a quick solution to the issue. He also assured that the landfill site would be brought back into operation before the end of this week and that a permanent solution would be established.

The council warned that if the issue is not addressed immediately, it could escalate into a major public health concern, especially given the country’s humidity and ongoing monsoon rains. Councillors have decided that if the matter remains unresolved within the stipulated time, they will return to WAMCO.

More than 200,000 people live in the Male’ area, and tons of waste are transported to Thilafushi daily. According to 2022 statistics, about 1,200 tonnes of garbage are moved from the Male’ region to Thilafushi each day.

The Male’ City Council is responsible for maintaining cleanliness across the capital. It has previously raised concerns about illegal dumping and continues to seek public assistance in identifying those responsible.