MOPA, partner resorts mark World Cleanup Day with large-scale coastal, reef cleanup

On the occasion of World Cleanup Day 2025, the Maldives Ocean Plastics Alliance (MOPA), in collaboration with Kandima Maldives, The Nautilus Maldives, and Nova Maldives, successfully organised a large-scale cleanup drive across multiple islands, aiming to tackle plastic pollution and safeguard the Maldives’ fragile marine ecosystems.

The cleanup activities kicked off early in the morning at 6:30 am, when Kandima Maldives led a focused and intensive cleanup drive at Thilabolhufushi Island, mobilising resort staff and volunteers to collect and segregate plastic waste from the beaches.

At 3:00 pm, Nova Maldives organised a reef cleanup where resort staff, marine biologists, and volunteers recovered close to 195 kg of waste from the reef area, protecting vital marine habitats and preventing harmful plastics from degrading the coral ecosystem.

Later in the afternoon, at 3:30 pm, The Nautilus Maldives executed another effective cleanup drive, ensuring beaches and surrounding coastal areas were thoroughly cleared of plastic debris and other waste materials.

Across all locations, 110+ participants—including resort managers, staff members, and volunteers—joined forces to demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. Through this collective effort, a total of 350+ kg of plastic waste was collected, preventing it from entering the ocean and helping preserve the Maldives’ beaches and marine habitats.

As part of its ongoing commitment, MOPA will collect all PET plastic waste generated from this cleanup and partner resorts for proper segregation, processing, and export to certified recycling facilities. This process ensures that plastics are diverted from landfills and oceans, supporting a circular economy and promoting a cleaner, greener Maldives.

A MOPA representative commented: “World Cleanup Day is a reminder that protecting our oceans requires collective action. We are grateful to our partner resorts for their leadership and active participation in driving meaningful change towards a cleaner, greener Maldives.”

The collected plastic waste will be processed through MOPA’s recycling network, furthering national sustainability efforts and contributing significantly to the reduction of plastic pollution in the Maldives.