MOPA, LUX* South Ari Atoll, ADh. Dhidhdhoo Council and ADh. Dhigurah Council signed an agreement to collect and transport PET plastics for recycling and repurposing
22 March 2023, LUX* South Ari Atoll (Maldives) – MOPA, LUX* South Ari Atoll, Dhidhdhoo Council and Dhigurah Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address PET plastics in a collaborative effort to work towards the mutual goal of combating ocean plastics. The MoU was signed by Mr. Thoriq Ibrahim, President & Co-Founder of MOPA, Mr. John Rogers, General Manager at LUX* South Ari Atoll, Mr. Ibrahim Usman, Dhigurah Council President and Mr. Ahmed Adam, Dhidhdhoo Council Vice President.
It is agreed in the agreement that under their ‘Circle of Care’ initiative, LUX* South Ari Atoll will support the communities in Dhidhdhoo and Dhigurah to pick up and transport post-consumer PET bottles to Male’ for recycling and repurposing. The collected PET bottles that are transported to Male’ will be taken to MOPA Material Recovery Facility in Hulhumale’ (scheduled to open in April) where they will be compacted and exported for recycling.
At the signing ceremony, Mr. John Rogers reaffirmed LUX* South Ari Atoll’s commitment to the partnership and expanding the ‘Circle of Care’ initiative to additional nearby islands in the future. Additionally, Mr. Hussain Afeef, Senior Director, Talent and Culture, LUX* South Ari Atoll, voiced the resort’s support for MOPA in conducting awareness sessions in Dhidhdhoo and Dhigurah island communities. Mr. Thoriq Ibrahim shared his appreciation and congratulated the members of LUX* South Ari Atoll and the island councils for their vision and commitment to support MOPA in the efforts to combat and reduce ocean plastics in the Maldives.
The signing ceremony was also attended by MOPA officials; Ahmed Maumoon, Chief Operating Officer, Hashma Haidar, Development Associate and Moobeen Jaleel, Programs Manager. Also in attendance were Dhigurah Council Secretary General, Minha Ibrahim, Dhidhdhoo Council Official, Anees Mohamed and several staff members of LUX* South Ari Atoll.
About MOPA:
The Maldives Ocean Plastics Alliance (MOPA) was registered in the Maldives in early 2020 as a non-governmental, not-for-profit networking organisation, focused on the growing domestic concern over plastic pollution. The core objectives of the Alliance include reducing, reusing and recycling plastics, raising awareness on their dangers to the country’s fragile ecosystems including the vast and abundant oceans, and advocating for greater repurposing of single-use plastics in communities.