The Ayn Terma Municipality in the countryside of Syria's capital Damascus has launched a new method that involves citizens in monitoring to combat environmental pollution and violations damaging public property. The municipal council announced that monetary rewards will be given to those who capture with their mobile phone cameras people burning trash bins or dumping waste against regulations.
Mayor Wael Salam told Syria al-Aan that the aim of this initiative is to create a sense that everyone is being watched. Salam noted that security cameras may be insufficient in identifying people wearing hats or masks, while mobile phone cameras provide a wider surveillance network.
Reporting rewards and penalties set
The municipal council clarified the reward and penalty tariffs in an announcement about a week ago. Accordingly, a citizen who records someone burning a trash bin will receive 500,000 Syrian pounds (about $37). The violator will be fined up to 1 million Syrian pounds (about $74) and may face charges of damaging public property.
Those who record someone throwing trash from windows or leaving waste next to bins will also receive 100,000 Syrian pounds (approximately $7.5). The starting penalty for the same act has also been set at 100,000 pounds. Those who record people dumping solid waste or rubble will receive a reward of 500,000 pounds.
The municipality posted on its Facebook page the receipt of a reward given to a citizen who recorded a person throwing trash from a balcony.
Measure yields results, bin burning incidents stop
The mayor stressed that cleanliness is a responsibility requiring cooperation between the municipality and the public. Salam said they regularly procure new bins but have not seen sufficient cooperation from the community.
A second evening shift has been introduced to prevent waste build-up, and new bins have been installed at a height that children can also use comfortably. The municipality announced that the reward decision immediately began showing results, and no bin burning incidents have been recorded in Ayn Terma since the announcement.
According to street interviews conducted by Syria al-Aan's reporter, the new measure received wide support from residents. Citizens said the decision is a positive step to reduce violations and improve the town’s appearance, and that determination and penal sanctions are essential for cleanliness.
