This Island In The Maldives Is Made Entirely Of Trash

In 2009, the Guardian reported that the island covered 124 acres, and was growing at an alarming rate of one square meter each day. As of 2021, as much as 772 tons (700 tonnes) of trash were added to the island daily. The waste has piled so high that it causes ever-smoldering fires, which spark on methane built up in all the trash. These fires have enveloped Malé and neighboring islands in smoke, causing breathing problems for residents across the islands, as well as the workers on the island.

“For many, many years, this dump site has been burning openly,” Shauna told Channel News Asia. “Because we have not managed our waste for all these years.”