Abu Dhabi residents cry foul over rubbish bins

Rubbish bins block parking spaces in the neighbourhood southwest of 19th street and Airport road in Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI // Residents who live behind the Abu Dhabi Residency and Naturalisation Department have complained of scattered rubbish bins and an unhealthy environment due to an excess of municipal containers in the vicinity.

Residents in the Al Saada Street neighbourhood have said the bins block the car parking bays allocated to residents, and that they detract from the beauty of the area.

Because of the number of containers placed in close proximity, there is a foul smell in the air of discarded food and other rubbish.

Generally, waste collection companies put big bins in most neighbourhoods, and small containers where needed. In this particular part of the city, however, there are about 60 rubbish bins, large and small.

Almost all villas in the area have two to three waste containers in front of them.

Two companies, hired by the Centre of Waste Management (CWM), are responsible for managing and collecting rubbish in Abu Dhabi city, Averda and Lavajet.

During the day, the neighbourhood is quiet, with plenty of open parking. But in the evening, parking becomes more difficult because the bins block the spaces.

According to the centre's regulations, the bins are supposed to be placed in a designated spot where they will not disrupt activity. However the companies often put the bins on pavements, beside roads and in parking spots.

An Averda official who visited the area after a complaint said: "We put two bins in front of each villa because here villas are too big."

However, when The National visited an adjacent site, it found waste containers in car parking bays.

"I am surprised why this area only is so encroached with bins," said Hussain Jamal, a resident. "Nobody can park on the other side of this area where paid parking is implemented and people flock to this area to avoid parking fees as paid for parking has yet to be implemented here."

Uthman Ahmed said: "These scattered bins generate a foul smell in the area and it's too unhealthy for their presence in such a manner. There should be big bins at the designated places. When rubbish collection vehicles stop in front of each villa it gives off a bad smell.

"Every time in the evening when we come to park we find these bins ahead so we can't park as collection vans also come to collect the rubbish."

Averda officials did not explain why the bins blocked the car parking bays, but said they would look into the matter.

A spokesman from the CWM said they had not received any complaints from inspectors or via call centres regarding the issue.

A statement said: "CWM has requested inspectors to do an immediate site visit and come back with a full report about the situation there in order for the management to take the necessary action."