Moroccan Beach Resort Saïdia Grapples with Waste Crisis Amid Tourism Season

Out of a total of seven zones, at least three have been littered with garbage and debris during this summer in Saïdia, reports L’économiste. Several causes are at the origin of the pollution of the environment in this region of the Kingdom.

These include the disagreement between the members of the Municipal Council (a president without a majority with an opposition of 9 members out of a total of 17 elected), the overflow of bins, the anarchic accumulation of garbage cans and street corners converted into dumping grounds, the lack of civic sense of some vacationers, merchants and restaurateurs who do not respect the schedules of the garbage collectors.

Interviewed by L’économiste, Aziz Yaacoubi, an associative actor, said that the population of the city goes from 15,000 inhabitants throughout the year to more than 300,000 during the holidays. According to him, this overpopulation causes malfunctions in all services and requires specific garbage collection programs, with the mobilization of all stakeholders.

In total, the summary of the tonnages of Saïdia, during the summer period, is 4,838 m3 of green and bulky waste, and 5,565 tons of household and similar waste (an average of 150 tons/day instead of 30/day throughout the year).

In addition, the awarding of the household waste collection contract to Ozone is a formal defect as the company is operating without a service order, according to Ouazzani Chahdi, its regional director.