To a great extent, you can learn a lot about a nation not only by observing its consumption habits, but also by how a nation handles the aftermath of its consumption.
Having realized that, the Jeddah Municipality is taking concrete steps towards making Jeddah a healthier, cleaner place, as well as an eco-friendly city for its residents and visitors.
It was announced in late November 2014 that old trash containers will be replaced with new, green ones that promote recycling. The starting point is set to be Al-Woroud district where three types of containers will be stationed, a safe distance from residential areas. Containers are specifically divided for plastic, bottles, paper and household waste. One of the future steps of this green initiative is to educate the younger generations on the importance of separating waste.
According to environmentalist Abdul Rahman Kammas, the presence of dirty garbage dumpsters near residential buildings brought visual discomfort, in addition to negatively affecting the health and hygiene of the residents. They were a fertile place for rodents and insects to breed.
“Placing the garbage containers at a distance from the residential areas would minimize the threat to the hygiene of the surroundings,” Kammas pointed out .
Although the news was greeted with much enthusiasm from many officials and environmentalists, the success of this initiative relies heavily on the amount of awareness that officials can disperse throughout the community.
Will the government succeed in their education initiatives? Only time will tell.