TAIF, 12 August 2006 — Residents of Prince Abdul Rahman neighborhood in Taif are complaining about the sanitation workers focusing their efforts away from removing trash and toward collecting and selling recyclable materials, from old cables to metal bed-frames, Al-Madinah reported.
In some cases, people say these workers are stealing materials, such as electrical cables, to supplement their low incomes. Residents blamed the companies for the lack of supervision over their workers.
A local resident said that he saw sanitation workers stripping away electrical cables, and even coming by later on with a truck to haul away materials they collected throughout the work day.
While most of the materials are throwaway items, locals are complaining that the sifting through trash for these items is becoming the main purpose of these workers instead of simply hauling the trash away.
“What is the use of these workers when they leave their main job to clean the neighborhood and start selling junk,” said local resident Abdullah Al-Nufaie. “The neighborhood is neglected and there are more than one crime incident reported every week of people missing their electricity cables. The neighborhood is dark and it helps them commit these crimes.”
Residents are complaining that these workers often leave trash they are supposed to pick up after sifting through it for recoverable items that can be re-sold in local markets.
Resident Jamman Al-Zahrani said that not cleaning the neighborhood means inviting sneaks and vermin into the neighborhood. He said that there are many wild dogs and dangerous insects in the neighborhood because the cleaning workers are too busy collecting junk and not garbage. Al-Zahrani said that he is seriously thinking of selling his house and moving out.
Municipal officials say they are investigating the complaints.
