The Male' city council collected nearly 60 tons of waste on Sunday alone during a cleanup effort by employees as garbage piled up on the streets ahead of Ramadan.
According to a report on yesterday's work shared by the city council with the media, a total of 59.6 tons were collected from 26 roads in Male'.
In addition to busy public spaces such as the Kunooz corner, the cleaned up roads included Maaveyo Magu, Dhilbahaaru Magu, Bodu Rasgefaanu Magu, Shabnam Magu, Kaba Aisa Rani Hingun, Ameenee Magu, Lonuziyaraiy Magu, Buruzu Magu, Chandanee Magu, Kurikeela Magu.
The city council uses 51 vehicles for garbage collection, including 16 pickups with a capacity of 1.5 tons, one pickup with a capacity of two tons, 26 pickups with a capacity of 0.350 tons, one pickup with a capacity of 3.5 tons and six pickups that can carry three tons.
Garbage usually piles up on the road ahead of Ramadan. The most common items left on the pavement include large furniture, household appliances and electronics, all of which require additional payments to the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) for disposal.
As the garbage problem escalated in recent days during the traditional cleaning of homes for Ramadan, WAMCO decided on Sunday to collect garbage for free from its stations in the Male' region.
WAMCO offered the service free of charge from 6 pm on Sunday to 11:59 pm on Wednesday. The company waived the disposal charge and entry fee for private vehicles bringing garbage to WAMCO stations during the three days.
Transfer stations were due to open at 2 pm on Monday, the first day of Ramadan.
According to WAMCO, the collection of food, organic and wet waste as well as construction waste will not be free. The company will also continue charging the collection fee of MVR 0.75 per kilo for businesses.
State institutions and other parties that provide collection services on a commercial basis would also continue to pay MVR 2.66 per kilo and a vehicle entry fee of MVR 150, WAMCO said.
WAMCO offered free garbage collection to the public after items thrown out of homes in the Male' region started piling up on pavements and prompted complaints from the public.
