The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement yesterday that as of yesterday afternoon, its own and outsourced staff had cleared 2,000 tonnes of rubbish after this week’s Typhoon Higos.
The statement said that the bureau has contracted a cleaning company to help clean up rubbish on the streets, adding that the bureau and the company sent 600 workers, 37 garbage trucks and 17 other vehicles to collect rubbish and clean up the streets.
According to the statement, the bureau and the company will continue to clean up the rest of the rubbish produced by Higos. The statement noted that Higos uprooted many trees, adding that the bureau was “trying its best” to remove or at least move away most of the branches and leaves on the streets. The bureau urged the general public not to mix their personal garbage with the branches and leaves piled up on the roadside.
In a separate statement released on Wednesday, the bureau said that many trees were toppled during the typhoon. After the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) took down typhoon signal No.8, IAM officers started immediately working on removing trees that might cause immediate danger, according to the statement.
Moreover, the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) said in a statement yesterday that due to this week’s typhoon a large amount of garbage was found along the coast and beaches. The bureau also hired a cleaning company to assist with the cleaning process. The statement noted that some of the rubbish might have floated into the sea. Therefore, the bureau asked the general public to call 6618 8644 if they find garbage along the coast or in the sea or 6658 5336 if they find rubbish on the city’s beaches. The bureau also urged beachgoers to pick-up their own rubbish and dispose of it properly.
Recently a subgroup of the Women’s General Association of Macau known in English as Association for the Joint Effort of Building a Good Home (ACCBL) released a statement about garbage found on beaches and hiking trails. According to the statement, many facemasks, empty plastic water bottles and plastic bags have been found on hiking trails. The association urged the government to warn hikers and beachgoers not to litter.
This undated handout photo released by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows a garbage truck collecting waste from a dumpster. Photo: IAM
Tree branches and leaves are blocking the pavement outside the Óscar Hiking Trail near Cheoc Van Beach yesterday. Photo: Prisca Tang
