Policy Recomondation for Hoadedhdhoo Office

TO: Mohamed Ayaz, Hoadedhdhoo Island Councilor

CC: Hoadedhdhoo Island Office, Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Office, Ministry of Home Affairs

FROM: Leah R. Malone, M.S., Sustainable Development/Human Rights/                                                         Peacebuilding Consultant

DATE: 12 October 2009

RE: Waste Management Site

I fully agree that creating a waste management site and collection system on Hoadedhdhoo is a top priority and should be undertaken as soon as possible. The current situation of discarding waste on the roads and in key ecosystems (wetlands and coral reefs) is unhealthy and unsustainable. However, I have some serious concerns about the safety and future sustainability of the current plan, especially regarding the chosen location on the south-eastern side of Hoadedhdhoo. This location will cause serious harm to human health, the socio-economic situation, and the environment. Ultimately, choosing an alternative site for waste disposal is necessary and undertaking an environmental impact assessment and waste management consultation would confirm this assessment. I recommend creating the site on the north-eastern tip of Hoadedhdhoo. The specific human and environmental risks, as well as detailed recommendations are outlined below.

Dangerous Human Health Risks:

• Chemical runoff from plastics, etc. will occur – this will happen whether the garbage is kept above ground or buried – with many harmful consequences:
  • The various chemicals will combine in dangerous ways, increasing their toxicity.
  • This runoff will contaminate the yam growing area and water table, especially since this key agricultural area is located next to the planned waste disposal site. When the yams are consumed or the ground water is used for bathing the chemicals will enter human bodies increasing the risk of infections, diseases (e.g. cancer), birth defects, and unforeseen complications.
  • The runoff will contaminate the nearby mangrove and reef areas; the chemicals will increase by orders of magnitude in these animals and plants (i.e. the amount of chemicals in a contaminated fish eating other contaminated fish or plants will be multiplied increasing their toxicity exponentially).
    • When the contaminated fish or plants from these ecosystems are eaten by humans, they will become extremely sick from infections, diseases (e.g. cancer), birth defects, and/or unforeseen complications.

• Flooding from storms and/or seasonal ocean tides, as well as climate change induced sea level rise will occur. Since the current waste site is planned for one of the lowest elevated, most vulnerable locations on the island toxic trash will be spread ALL OVER HOADEDHDHOO contaminating all the water tables, other agricultural areas, and countless households.
  • This will cause humans to become extremely sick with infections, diseases (e.g. cancer), birth defects, and unforeseen complications.

• Transporting toxic waste off Hoadedhdhoo must not be done where food is transported, as well as fishing and swimming regularly occurs.
  • If a spill happens, these toxins will contaminate local food stuff, fish used for bait or consumption, and will seep into human bodies causing infections, diseases (e.g. cancer), birth defects, and unforeseen complications.

• Burning trash, especially plastics and other chemicals, will increase respiratory problems, infections, and diseases (e.g. cancer) for all of Hoadedhdhoo’s population.
  • Regardless of if this area is located away from households, the toxic fumes will still be inhaled.
  • Burning trash will increase CO2 emissions; this is in opposition to President Nasheed’s plan for the Maldives to become carbon neutral.

Dangerous Environmental Risks:

• Chemical runoff from plastics, etc. will occur (this will happen whether the garbage is kept above ground or buried) with many harmful consequences:
  • The runoff will contaminate the nearby mangrove and reef areas; the chemicals will increase by orders of magnitude in these animals and plants (i.e. the amount of chemicals in a contaminated fish eating other contaminated fish or plants will be multiplied increasing their toxicity exponentially).
  • These ecosystems are ESSENTIAL for protecting Hoadedhdhoo from climate change impacts (rising sea levels, coastal erosion, etc.) and are already under major stress (from increasing storm frequency and intensity; rising ocean temperatures and acidity are killing/weakening coral reefs; the mangrove areas are dying from trash, too much sand, and improper water flow). ANY FURTHER DAMAGE WILL THREATEN HOADEDHDHOO’S FUTURE SURVIVAL.
  • Reef fishing for businesses and daily consumption will not be possible; if the coral reefs are damaged any further (they are still recovering from the 1997 bleaching) the algae, fish, crabs/lobsters, and octopi will die off.

• Flooding from storms and/or seasonal ocean tides, as well as climate change induced sea level rise will occur. Toxic trash will be spread ALL OVER HOADEDHDHOO contaminating all the water tables, other agricultural areas, and countless households since the current waste site is planned for one of the lowest elevated, most vulnerable locations of Hoadedhdhoo.
  • This will destroy agricultural productivity on Hoadedhdhoo (which is currently the main form of livelihood generation), as well as the vast variety of fruit trees the community depends on for subsistence.

• The current location is not large enough for expansion to accommodate population growth.

Recommendations:

Implementing a waste management system immediately is imperative for Hoadedhdhoo’s human and environmental health. It is critical that this project considers medium and long term impacts. The current plan is extremely harmful to socio-economic development, human health, and environmental sustainability.

• Have an environmental scientist conduct an environmental impact assessment to choose the most appropriate location –
  • DO NOT BUILD A WASTE SITE ON THE PLANNED LOCATION
  • I recommend building on the far northwestern tip of Hoadedhdhoo: it is higher elevated/not prone to flooding, located away from agricultural areas and households, is large enough for expansion, and is easily accessible by transportation vessels.
• Build the waste site as far away from households, agricultural areas, and important ecosystems (i.e. wetlands) as possible.
• Build this site on a highly elevated location that is not vulnerable to flooding and has a less porous topography.
• Plan for the future – this site isn’t large enough for future expansion, garbage removal, or recycling.
• The waste site should be lined properly to prevent soil and water contamination –
  • Consult with waste management experts or another island that has undertaken this type of project.
• The location should be easily accessible by transport vessels –
  • Incorporate use of the Horizon Fisheries port for waste transportation or have them assist with development of a small port area as part of their contract.
• The waste location should plan for future recycling initiatives and separate garbage into organic (for composting and use as agricultural fertilizer), glass/metal, paper, and plastics.
• Management and employees of the waste site should be locally hired and trained.
• The cost to local residents should be minimal as an incentive to participate in the waste management program.