The Al-Ahsa Municipality and Saudi Aramco recently launched a joint campaign to remove garbage from the region’s streets, and recycle rubble and other material from construction sites.

Abdullah Al-Arfaj, deputy mayor of Al-Ahsa for municipal services, said in his speech at the launch of the campaign that “Islam encourages us to take care of the environment.” He said Al-Ahsa residents were showing a growing interest in learning how to prevent pollution.

He said the environment was “paramount to a long and healthy existence” so individuals, government and civil society organizations should become involved by launching educational and voluntary programs.

He said the municipality wants to recycle material from the many construction sites mushrooming in the region because of rapid urbanization and infrastructure projects.

“This will result in the safe disposal of the waste and protect the environment and landscape,” Al-Arfaj said.

Al-Arfaj urged the public to cooperate by refraining from throwing waste out onto the streets.

Abdulkareem Al-Ghamdi, director of Uthmaniyah gas plant at Saudi Aramco, said: “The campaign will last for 10 days and is part of Saudi Aramco’s social responsibility program to cooperate with the Al-Ahsa Municipality for a pollution-free environment.”

Al-Ghamdi said that the campaign also aims to raise awareness among contractors on how to dispose of waste in a responsible manner.

“The focus will be on educating workers and their supervisors at three main locations which include the municipality and Saudi Aramco’s waste disposal sites.”

He said officials would supervise the sites and identify new larger ones for dumping waste.

Yassir Al-Omair, an Aramco engineer, said the company would send campaign buses to various locations to promote the awareness program.