After a noticeable absence of around a year, the practice of burning tires in the streets of Jeddah has returned to haunt the inhabitants of residential areas. Many blame the practice, which creates large quantities of dark, billowing smoke, on illegal workers who set the tires on fire in order to obtain the metallic wires inside the rubber, while they also point the finger at car repair shops that throw unwanted tires out into the streets. “It pollutes the environment and the flames can be extremely dangerous,” says Wisam Al-Khareef. “I've seen Africans do it many times.” The practice, according to Waleed, is most prevalent in Jeddah's southern districts. Menwir Balharith, a teacher, says the problem is only just beginning and must be “nipped in the bud.” “I've seen Africans collect the tires, load them on to a car and burn them in uninhabited areas,” Menwir says. “But the wind carries the smoke over to populated areas.” University student Salem Al-Shihri holds car shops responsible. “They should get rid of their unwanted goods safely, and make sure they don't fall into the hands of the wrong people,” he says. “That,” says Sa'ad Al-Otaibi, “is the responsibility of the municipality. They should impose strict regulations on car repair shops.” Mohammad Mihmas, of African nationality, says he and his colleagues stopped burning tires and other unwanted products when the city's old waste dump was closed down, but now they have started up the practice once again. “We find tires among the garbage or get them from car repair workshops that throw their stuff out into the street, or at areas of wasteland on the city outskirts. Scrap dealers encourage us to do it,” Mohammed says. Nooralhoda Al-Ghamdi, a school health official in Taif, says that although the burning of tires is not that common, it still causes considerable damage to the environment. “It gives off carcinogenic substances, and produces acid rain,” Al-Ghamdi says. “Inhaling the emissions from burning tires leads to irritation of the throat and an increase in coughing by 50 to 100 percent, and leads to inflammation of the throat which can develop into an ulcer. The effects can also be harmful on fetuses, and fertility levels in both sexes.” Jamal Abu Sabah, head of waste dump management, says the problem will be resolved once contract bids for a planned recycling factory have been finalized. The factory is an investment project that will produce organic fertilizers, and the project includes the recycling of tires for use in tire factories.
