Holiday shopping frenzy
Sulaymaniyah Municipality urges shoppers and business owners to keep markets clean
SULAYMANIYAH — With the Eid holiday approaching and the recent distribution of February salaries, Sulaymaniyah’s municipality is grappling with a surge in littering within the city’s markets.
The influx of shoppers following the salary disbursement has coincided with a noticeable rise in the improper disposal of waste and debris by shop owners and vendors, according to municipal authorities.
The municipality expressed concern over the littering, not only for aesthetic reasons but also for its impact on environmental efforts in a post to its official Facebook account.
Zardasht Rafiq, a spokesperson for the municipality, revealed that sanitation crews collect roughly 1,000 tons of garbage daily from the market area, with that number spiking to between 1,200 and 1,500 tons during holiday periods.
“To facilitate better waste management, the municipality has installed 600 large garbage containers throughout the market areas,” the municipality’s statement said.
Municipal officials have issued a three-pronged directive to shop owners and vendors requiring them to collect and dispose of all waste and leftover materials from their merchandise in designated garbage bags, clean their respective areas after business hours, and utilize designated bins for proper waste disposal.
On potential penalties for littering, Rafiq said, “We’ve launched an awareness campaign for now and are not currently issuing fines. However, if the littering persists, we may be forced to implement stricter measures.”
Fines for littering in front of shops and on streets could reach up to 100,000 Iraqi dinars (approximately $76 USD).