Thilafushi, an island in the Maldives made entirely of rubbish

In 2009, The Guardian informed that the island covers 124 acres and is growing at an alarming rate of one square meter every day. As of 2021, as as much as 772 tons Every day (700 tons) of garbage was added to the island. The waste has accumulated so much that it causes constantly smoldering fires, the sparks of which form on the methane accumulated in all the garbage. These fires are shrouded in Male and neighboring islands in smoke, resulting in breathing problems for residents of all islands, as well as workers on the island.

“For many, many years, this dump was openly burning,” Shona told Channel News Asia. “Because we haven’t disposed of our waste all these years.”