New system facilitates waste recycling

Waste-sorting containers are operating successfully in the Al-Massara district in north Jeddah, Al-Fayhaa in central Jeddah, on the walkway of Palestine Street and on the Corniche. A nine-month initial trial period has been allocated for the new initiative.
Ali Al-Ghamdi, a services agent, has said it is a strategic project and a prerequisite for members of society. He said the initiative might be expanded to other districts in future if it proves successful.
“There is a lack of awareness among people about the benefits of sorting and recycling waste. The initial goal is to have people place waste in the correct container in order to facilitate the waste recycling process,” said Al-Ghamdi.
The new waste containers have three separate openings, notably for food waste, plastic and metal and paper.
The Jeddah Municipality has formed a committee to review previous cleaning contracts, where they decided that the previous contracts should be annulled.
Consequently, new terms and conditions were drawn up in line with the Municipality’s desire to improve cleanliness in the city.
Citizens can participate in reviewing the contracts through the Jeddah Secretariat’s webpage and study the proposals, as well as contact reputable contractors in the Kingdom.
Eleven companies presented their proposals for potential projects and a total of 45 competing bids were made.
Jeddah has been divided into nine regions, including the municipalities of Obhor and new Jeddah, in order to properly allocate cleaning contracts.
The services in these contracts involve cleaning streets, sidewalks and empty land that falls within the regions, as well as litter collection, household and commercial garbage collection and emptying water from the streets.
In addition, the contracts stipulate that these companies shall be responsible for washing, disinfecting and maintaining waste containers and ensuring public beaches are clean, in addition to collecting large waste objects and maintaining transit stations on the highways.