PROMPT SERVICE: Municipality workers cleaning a garbage bin in Mina

JEDDAH: Pilgrims left behind them more than 70,000 tons of waste in Makkah and around the holy sites, which was removed by the Makkah Municipality during 17,500 cleaning trips, demonstrating the hard work, planning and concerted efforts of all cleaning staff.

As for control works, these commenced in the second half of the month of Shawwal through intensified spraying and other operations at the holy sites and in Makkah with over 600 personnel. This giant operation involved the use of 560 different types of equipment, which allowed them to spray 50,725 tents, 56,557 toilets, and 1,490 kitchens.

As many as 3,358 sites were monitored for cleanliness, and 700 mosquito traps were installed in various sites through the use of 2,200 liters of pesticides, as well as 56kg of bait for insects.

The municipality seeks to develop non-traditional mechanisms and methods of waste collection, especially in the holy sites through the provision of dual waste containers and an automatic suction system throughout the next Haj season.

Mohammed Al-Mowarraqi, director general of cleaning operations at the municipality, confirmed that the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has exerted extensive efforts to offer the best services to pilgrims.

Furthermore, operational plans were prepared for Makkah and the holy sites, and were preceded by coordination at the highest level with government and private agencies taking part in the Haj season.

The operational plan was divided into three phases. The first phase included equipping and preparing the holy sites until the seventh day of Dul Hijjah through infrastructure works. In the camps, 1,200 pressure containers, 120 warehouses, 45,000 containers supported by nine mobile transitional stations and seven fixed transitional stations were successfully installed.

Source: ArabNews