They say trash is strewn around Hindawiyya district, the historic center (Balad) and Qeryat district, causing a horrible smell and a bad appearance.
“We tried calling the municipality more than once to come and help us clean the streets next to our homes but they never did,” said 73-year-old Am Ahmed, who lives in Hindawiyya.
“They give the impression that they care as they always ask for the exact location, but we have not seen any changes for years now.”
Locals take the trash and drop it in the bins themselves to avoid the smell, but they still face the same problem day after day.
“I sometimes send my son to take the trash in his car to the nearest rubbish bin,” said Aminah Mohammed, who lives in downtown Jeddah.
“Other neighbors don’t do anything about it and just throw the trash on the side of the street.”
Residents embarrassed by the bad smell and the unpleasant view of the trash pile cannot do a thing about it.
“I cannot ask my friends and family to visit me because I’m just embarrassed by what is in front of my house,” said Safeyya from Hindawiyya. “I cannot even open my window because the air is definitely not fresh.”
Downtown residents blame visitors and tourists for the piles of trash.
“People visit our areas to see old Jeddah and take photos almost every day, also taking juice boxes and water bottles along with them,” said local resident Tariq Sarraj.
“I don’t mind the visitors and I don’t blame them because if we had more than one trash bin to throw their waste in they wouldn’t have to throw it in the streets.”
Saud from Qeryat district says he used to gather with his friends outside his house to play cards, but now they cannot handle the smell.
“My eyes sometimes hurt from the smell. My friends and I cannot handle the view either,” he said. “Who can believe that a simple pile of trash can keep me away from hanging out with my friends and playing cards?”
