Friends helping friends: Basra government takes out trash, cleans city

Photo By Sgt. Rodney Foliente | City workers toss trash into the back of a garbage truck in the Hyyaniya District of Basra June 3. The trash lies piled along the side of the road encroaching upon local homes.  

BASRA, IRAQ

06.04.2009

Story by Sgt. Rodney Foliente 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, met with key members of Basra's government and surveyed ongoing trash clean-up efforts June 3 and 4.

The initial phase of cleaning up the city began May 5 and focuses on picking up trash along some of Basra's streets and canals.

The city is only capable of picking up approximately 40 percent of the 2,700 tons of trash that is generated on a daily basis, said Maj. Stanley Hutchison, 2nd BCT project management team chief, 4th Inf. Div.

"They get further and further behind in trash disposal every day. When Saddam came into power, he cut off the essential services to this area. It's been like this since the '70s," said Hutchison.

"That's why it's a big problem and they need our help. Waste management was identified as one of the highest priorities for the 2nd BCT," continued Hutchison. The accumulated trash has become a serious problem and clogs canals, blocks streets and fills fields.

"By cleaning up all of the trash sites, it opens up more land for businesses and residences. It's also an invitation for investors to invest in the community and bring more jobs to the area," said Hutchison, who comes from Salem, Ore.

The 2nd BCT met with government officials and developed a program to clean up Basra that started with picking up large densities of trash piles within the city. The program will then progress into providing more trash containers throughout the city, recycling scrap metal piles, restoring the trash collection fleet, providing citizens with routine trash pick-up services and developing solid waste transfer stations, said Hutchison.

Currently, he said there are approximately $8 million in solid waste management projects which are in progress or pending.

"America and Iraq must continue to work together as friends to clean up Basra and make it the beautiful city it once was," said Rajih Aboud, Basra's assistant governor, through an interpreter. "We promise that we're going to work hard for the people of Basra and improve their quality of life," he said to members of the local media.

"The city of Basra has been waiting for this change that our government is now bringing. There are many projects [being] done by the U.S. and Iraqis, working together to help clean up and stabilize Basra. We appreciate the help. Together we serve the city and help its people," said Suhail Abud, technical consultant for the governor.

"It is very important to clean every area of the city. Cleaning the streets and the canals is only the beginning," said Abud. "Cleaning the city is especially important for the people and their health. It is [also] good for the environment, for tourism and businesses."

He said that the last time that the canals, streets and city were cleaned was in 1988.

"Now we are beginning to clean the city again!" exclaimed Abud. "I and all the people are happy to see the city being cleaned." He said that a clean city will result in greater pride. "In the near future Basra will be much cleaner and better."

The city plans on educating the populace about the detrimental effects of litter and hopes to prevent citizens from littering by eventually re-enforcing fines, said Jamal Salem, Basra's municipality directorate general.

"This is very good for our city and we need to continue to clean the city. It is the responsibility of both the government and the people to make the city beautiful," said Khalid, a vendor along the al-Ashar Canal, through an interpreter. "It is good for the environment and the health of our people, especially our children: our future. We want a beautiful and safe Basra for our children to enjoy."

"A cleaner city would be nicer to grow up in and play in," said Hassan, a 13-year-old in the Hyyaniya District, through an interpreter. Some younger children with him nodded their agreement excitedly as they watched city workers pick up a mass of garbage next to their homes.

• Date Taken: 06.04.2009
• Date Posted: 06.04.2009 14:24
• Story ID: 34549
• Location: BASRA, IQ