Maldives has had to face a growing challenge in managing its solid waste and associated environmental, economic and social issues. This situation is even worse in small islands due to the size of the island communities, insufficient infrastructure and waste transportation difficulties, absence of sufficient budget and appropriate cost recovery system, lack of institutional capacity, weak regulation, limited opportunities for private sector involvement in service delivery, lack of public awareness and participation. As a result, most of the waste generated on the islands are disposed onto the island foreshore or burnt at low combustion temperatures.

Considering these issues, the Ministry of Environment (ME) in partnership with the IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET) in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme - International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) and with the financial support from the Ministry of Environment Japan (MOEJ) has developed a Regional Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan for zone 6.

The summary of the strategy has been translated into the local language (Dhivehi) by Ministry of Environment, Maldives for wider distribution and application of the strategy at island-level activities.