Residents of Ajwad district complained that the plant was emitting foul and poisonous smoke, endangering lives.

“We have complained about this several times before. But nobody wants to listen,” one resident said.

Bassam Jameel Akhdar, chairman of the Samir District Center and a member of the Jeddah Municipal Council, said the plant was only located about 500 meters from the district and was violating regulations.

“The basic contract for this plant is illegal and was implemented based on a behind-closed-doors agreement between the municipality and a company specializing in recycling rubbish and damaged cars,” he said.

“The fumes from the plant are very dangerous. A number of doctors have told us that it would harm our children and elderly,” he said. “Being the chairman of the district center, I demand the immediate relocation of the plant away from residential areas.”

He called for the setting up of advanced rubbish recycling facilities in the city to safely dispose of dangerous waste.

“Authorities should consider the requirements of this fast growing city,” he said.

Jeddah currently lacks specific facilities to dispose of dangerous waste. There are only three furnaces for burning rubbish in the city.

The total volume of dangerous industrial solid waste in Jeddah is estimated at 47,000 tons annually, while liquid waste is estimated at 37,000 cubic meters.

Waste from desalination plants in the city alone will reach 38,000 tons annually while the volume of dangerous oil waste is 5,000 tons annually.

Jeddah produces 1.5 million tons of rubbish annually, in addition to four million tons of construction waste and 3,370 tons of medical waste.