Makkah Removes More Than 16,000 Tons of Waste During Hajj Season

Authorities in Makkah announced the removal of more than 16,000 tons of waste from the holy sites during the Hajj season as part of a large-scale operational plan aimed at maintaining cleanliness, public health, and a safe environment for pilgrims.

The sanitation operations covered Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, with daily waste removal averaging more than 200 tons during one of the world’s largest seasonal cleaning campaigns.

Massive Operational System Supporting Pilgrims

The cleanup efforts relied on:

• More than 88,000 cleaning units.
• 45,000 waste containers.
• 123 waste compactors.
• 1,235 compacting bins.
• Over 3,000 field vehicles and machines.

More than 22,000 workers, inspectors, and supervisors participated in the operations to ensure around-the-clock sanitation services across the holy sites.

Comprehensive Environmental Sanitation

Environmental cleaning and disinfection covered more than 46,000 locations across Makkah and the holy sites, including:

• Spraying and sterilization operations.
• Pest-control measures.
• Cleaning high-density areas.
• Maintaining pathways and gathering zones for pilgrims.

Field teams also carried out rapid rehabilitation work in Mina after pilgrims moved to Arafat, ensuring the area was fully prepared for their return during the Days of Tashreeq.

Intensive Food Safety and Inspection Campaigns

Alongside sanitation efforts, authorities conducted more than 38,000 inspection visits covering:

• Catering kitchens.
• Food establishments.
• Markets.
• Storage facilities.

More than 5,000 food samples were tested through mobile and fixed laboratories to ensure food safety standards for pilgrims.

The food inspection system included:

• Five mobile laboratories.
• Ten field-testing devices.
• Around 40 inspection vehicles.

Officials confirmed that no food poisoning cases have been recorded during the Hajj season so far.

Pilgrims Praise the Services

Many pilgrims praised the speed of waste removal and the organization of pathways despite the massive crowds, noting that the visible presence of cleaning teams helped maintain a healthy and comfortable environment, especially under high temperatures.

Pilgrims also highlighted the availability of food, cold drinks, and volunteer initiatives distributing water and fruit along routes between the holy sites.

Smart Systems and Rapid Response

Municipal operations during Hajj rely on monitoring rooms and real-time coordination systems to improve response efficiency and maintain high standards of cleanliness, safety, and service quality for millions of pilgrims.