UAE | Environment
Official looks to address pollution issues
From trash-littered roads to noisy street sweepers, Bee'ah aims to redress residents' inconveniences
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 May 21, 2010
- Image Credit: VIRENDRA SAKLANI /Gulf News
- Residents have complained that the automated street sweepers are too noisy and are disturbing their sleep as they start operating at 5.30am.
Sharjah: Authorities have urged residents to call the toll free number 800 tandeef (8263333) if they face any problems about trash-littered streets or noise pollution from the automated street sweepers.
Gulf News yesterday reported about disturbances in the residential area of Al Majaz at 5.30am caused by the irritating sound from the automated street sweepers.
Khalid Al Huraimel, General Manager at Bee'ah, the Sharjah Environmental Company, explained they were still developing a change in timings according to the needs of residents.
"When the machines were initially launched in January, we started the shift at a later time, but were faced with traffic problems. So we then started earlier in order to avoid traffic problems."
Speaking at the Middle East Waste Summit which ended yesterday, Al Huraimel pointed out that they were currently in the final negotiations of acquiring a Global Positioning System (GPS) for the machines so that they can avoid congested areas, and not pose a hazard to motorists.
The automated machines currently operate in the three zones of Sharjah, which consist of Al Majaz and Buheirah Corniche, Al Falaj and one commercial area, where "the Al Majaz area alone has a population of around 300,000 residents."
The machines have two shifts, from 4.30am to 1.30pm and from 3pm to 8pm.
"But they mostly operate in the mornings and clean up the street once. The only time when they will work in the afternoon, or clean the street several times, is in cases of a sandstorm when the streets are dirtier than usual," said Al Huraimel.
"Regarding the complaints that the machines only collect paper — that is not true. The machines are designed to collect aluminium cans and pieces of wood and plastic," he added.
Within the next year, Al Huraimal explained that the machines would also have a greater impact by targeting industrial areas and more residential areas.
Free to call
The authorities have urged residents to call the free number 800 tandeef (8263333) if they face any problems related to trash or noise from the sweepers.
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