ABU DHABI Keeping public parks clean is becoming a huge challenge for civic authorities as park goers are leaving mounds of trash behind.
Littering in parks peaks during the winter when thousands of families hit the outdoors for picnics and barbecues.
“People are least bothered about keeping the environment clean. They spend a whole day in the park, eat, drink and leave all the trash right there,” said Saj Ahmed, an Egyptian marine engineer.
“There are trash cans every few metres but it is the attitude that has to change,” added Ahmed, father of two.
New Zealander Amanda Vincent said she loves to go to the park with her kids, but is careful after she spotted leftover burned coal a few times.
“This is extremely dangerous when people don’t safely dispose of coal used for barbecuing. Children can burn their feet or hands if they accidently step on it,” said Vincent, a housewife.
While a major part of the waste is leftover food, residents also leave behind non-degradable waste like plastic bottles, cans, plastic bags and aluminium foil.
Public awareness
During the weekends, it gets worse as a lot of families spend their day outdoors.
“On a Friday night, if you take a stroll in the Corniche family park, it resembles an Augean’s stable. There is so much rubbish everywhere,” said Mehr Farooqui, an Indian housewife.
This is despite regular public awareness campaigns by the Abu Dhabi municipality and other civic authorities to keep the city’s parks clean. The parks are managed and maintained by Abu Dhabi Municipality and the Centre for Waste Management (CWM).
A municipality cleaner said during weekends there are more workers to pick up the trash.
“It is not easy to keep the parks clean as you see it in the morning. During weekends it is a task in itself as we have to sort degradable and non-degradable waste,” said the Bangladeshi cleaner who requested not to be named.
Many residents have urged park goers not to litter and leave their rubbish in trash bins so that it does not mar the beauty of the place.
“The parks are so beautifully maintained by the authorities here.
“It a blessing to have such sprawling green leisure spots in the city and people should act more responsibly to preserve it,” said Sara Beasley, a western expat living in Abu Dhabi.
