Riyadh Municipality has launched a cleanliness drive employing eco-friendly technology. It has recently installed equipment powered by solar energy in public parks and gardens for a greener environment.

 

Besides keeping them green and clean, these modern tools of technology have also enhanced the beauty of the public places.

 

Every waste container has a note saying: “Recycling is life. Together we can help recycle our waste through this box.” The container is meant to collect non-biodegradable materials such as dead batteries, plastics and cigarette butts besides other waste.

 

However, some picnickers and visitors are unaware of these installations and often don’t make use of the waste containers to put their litter in.

 

A visit to a park in Sulaimania district early in the morning showed that even though these equipments are clearly visible in every corner of the park, the picnickers dumped the waste on the ground assuming that a cleaner would eventually come around to pick up after them.

 

“The problem is that people are not accustomed to keeping the place tidy. They expect others to do their job,” said Sami Alharbi, a Saudi who works in a logistics support company in Riyadh.

 

He said that the youth of this generation need greater public awareness of cleanliness which can be done by their schools and through the media. “We need an educational campaign on how to keep your city clean,” Alharbi said.

 

He noted that there is a culture of relying on others. “Often families on outings are seen calling a cleaner to throw away their waste for a small amount of money instead of doing it themselves,” he said.

 

He even suggested that every public park distribute waste bags to each family at the entrance for them to put their waste in.

 

Some feel that without sufficient awareness, these equipments will be another waste of resources similar to other public utilities such as postal boxes that were installed in all residential buildings but were not used by the targeted customers.

 

 

PHOTO: Green Initiative: The recently installed equipment in public parks and gardens uses solar energy.

CREDIT: Arab News