Piles of trash in Jeddah's districts and a lack of official action have become sources of concern and disgust for residents who worry that the ugly, smelly heaps could cause outbreak of epidemics. Observers said the root cause of the problem is that most cleaners have stopped doing their jobs and focused on the lucrative business of collecting empty beverage cans and bottles that are recycled by owners of beverage factories. The cleaners have resorted to this thriving business to increase their low monthly income, which ranges between SR300 and SR 350. An official source at Jeddah Mayoralty said authorities have tightened control over the cleaners who compete among themselves to collect empty cans and cartons. Negligent cleaners and their companies are being punished and officials are urging employers to fire negligent workers. Al-Shihri, a resident in Al-Samer District who agreed that cleaners have deserted their jobs to collect empty cans and cartons, said the situation there has become a health hazard. “The district has become a breeding ground for insects and rodents and there are foul odors from the overflowing garbage dumpsters,” he said. Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, a resident of Quwaizah District, said excessive trash and a lack of action to deal with it have become all too common. “It has become a common sight to come across heaps of food leftovers and garbage near the garbage dumpsters,” he said. “The Mayoralty's field inspection teams pass by these dumpsters but they turn a blind eye. They are fully aware of the poor standard of cleanliness in these areas, but they never care to solve this problem. “This is not the only problem; the garbage dumpsters are also too old to be of any use. I urge the authorities to replace and tighten control over the cleaners who have stopped carrying out the task for which they have been employed.” Sami Al-Muttairi, a resident of Al-Safa District, agreed that the problems have existed for a long time. “The problem of accumulated garbage and foul smells has become something normal, to the extent that the residents in the district have got used to this problem,” he said. “I wonder why the inspectors turn a blind eye to all these shortcomings.” Al-Muttairi said the situation has become unbearable and believes the heaps of garbage have become a time bomb that could cause serious health problems. “Nobody can rule out the outbreak of epidemics in the district,” he said. This is happening at a time when the government is spending billions of riyals on cleaning, he added. Sa'eed Al-Fidaili, who lives in Al-Rabee' District, said the accumulation of the garbage in most of the city's districts and the fact that officials in the Jeddah Mayoralty know about it shows that they do not bother to look after residents' safety and health and do not care about their complaints. Al-Fidaili called for urgent intervention by higher authorities to protect the coastal city from the hazard of contagious diseases. He also stressed the importance of organizing training courses for the cleaners to help them properly carry out the work. Majed Ali, a resident of Al-Ajwad District, said the problem damages Jeddah's image in the eyes of residents and visitors. “These piles and heaps of garbage distort the image of the coastal city, which is the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques,” he said. “By all measures, the sight of these heaps of food leftovers and garbage does not befit the considerable development made by the Kingdom in all walks of life. Believe it or not, this trash, which is accumulated on both sides of the road leading to the Holy Haram, catches the eyes of the Umrah pilgrims and visitors. Needless to say, this leaves a bad impression about our country, which is visited by millions of believers and worshippers.”
