Policy Framework
National Action Plan
● Saudi Arabia Vision 2030:
Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 indicates provisions to raise the efficiency of waste management and reduce pollution of all kinds. The vision of the National Center for Waste Management emanates from the Kingdom’s vision 2030 regarding the protection and preservation of the environment in general and the improvement of waste management.
● National Environmental Strategy:
A committee was formed to develop an institutional setting for the waste sector in Saudi Arabia along with the required enablers to sustainability manage the waste sector. This work is a key player to develop national environmental strategy lead by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. The ministry, as a policy maker, sets sector policies and overall direction, issue waste management law among others responsibilities.
● National Center for Waste Management:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is embarking on an ambitious transformational plan, Vision 2030, as it seeks to shift from the current status quo taking executive action to reform the waste management sector with the principles of circular economy at its heart. Following the endorsement of the National Environment Strategy in 2018, the National Center for Waste Management was established as the as the primary institution for waste governance in KSA. Its mandate includes developing waste management policies, strategic waste management planning, developing financing models, stimulating investment, among others. The National Center for Waste Management, as a regulator of the waste management sector in Saudi Arabia, and part of its vision to develop a sustainable waste management sector that is operated on principles of a circular economy to contribute to enhancing environmental protection and quality of life. It is working in the basis of utilizing best international standards to regulate the waste sector in effectively and sustainably manners this through innovation and adoption of best practices and modern technologies considering the Kingdom’s conditions and circumstances. Some of its responsibilities include:
- Develop waste management regulations and technical guideline,
- Develop the sector and prepare a Master Plan for the waste sector
- Define financing models and stimulate investment in the sector
- Build capabilities of the technical staff working in the system
- Encourage research and innovation
● Strategic Targets by 2035 to support transition to a Circular Economy:
To shift from liner to circular economy in waste management in Saudi Arabia, strategic targets were sets by 2035 with landfill diversion target for Municipal Solid Waste and overall landfill diversion of 94% and 82% respectively considering the whole waste value chain. To aid this transition, numbers of enablers are in progressed and some are completed. Some of the strategic enablers for shifting the waste sector from liner to circular economy includes developing waste management law and regulations.
Legal Framework
● Waste Management Law and Executive Waste Management Regulations
Brief description:
Waste Management Law and Executive Waste Management Regulations
Saudi Arabia passed a new and advanced waste management law that promotes and sets a solid legal framework for the development a sustainable waste management sector within the principles of a circular economy. The new law clearly sets objectives and responsibilities across the value chain of waste activities and stakeholders from generators to service providers and public authorities. principles for various products and wastes, requirements for service providers and facilities financial instruments, import and export of wastes, responsibilities of operators of maritime transportation ships in addition to civil and criminal liabilities and penalties.
● Saudi Arabia Active Engagement in International Conventions and Treaties:
Brief description:
Saudi Arabia is engaged actively in several international conventions and treaties. For example, Saudi Arabia is an active member in Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm. In addition, Saudi Arabia was one of the G20 countries who endorsed the “G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter” at the subsequent G20 Osaka Summit with a global vision “ Osaka Blue Ocean Vision”.
Indicators and/or Targets
■ No
Technical Standards, Guidelines and Methodologies
Topics: ■ waste management / recycling ■ Others: In Preparation
Brief Description:
Saudi Arabia believes that plastic pollution is arriving from mismanagement of plastic waste. With the national plan in place that include clear mandate for
Measures
Measures across Value Chain
Product Specific Measures: ALDFG
Partnership and Innovation
Monitoring, Data Management, Understanding Flow of Plastics/MPL
International Collaboration
| Measures across Value Chain | |
| Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design (example: improved durability, reparability, recyclability, reduction of material use per product…etc.) | In Preparation |
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Specific Measures: The Mostadam Program is the new Saudi Green Building Standard developed to promote sustainable buildings and communities in the country. National Center for Waste Management is in ongoing discussions to advocate for and establish the use of post-consumer recycled products as a standard requirement in the design of new building projects. This includes the use of recycled aggregates, wood, steel, and other materials. |
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| Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives, recycled materials at production stage. | - |
| Steps taken towards restricting microplastics in products. | - |
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At the current stage, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process for the plastics treaty is still ongoing and under development. Given the evolving nature of the negotiations, Saudi Arabia does not wish to prejudge the outcome at this time. |
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| Reduce single-use plastic (shopping bags, straws etc.) by regulations or voluntary measures (such as ban, levy, others) | - |
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At the current stage, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process for the plastics treaty is still ongoing and under development. Given the evolving nature of the negotiations, Saudi Arabia does not wish to prejudge the outcome at this time. |
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| Introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) | In Preparation |
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At the current stage, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process for the plastics treaty is still ongoing and under development. Given the evolving nature of the negotiations, Saudi Arabia does not wish to prejudge the outcome at this time. |
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| Improve waste management and recycling system | Yes |
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Specific Measures:
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| Promoting plastic waste re-use, recycling and recovery opportunities | Yes |
Specific Measures: |
| Install capturing trap/filter on drainage/river | - |
| Conduct clean-up activities in rivers/ wetlands/ beaches/ coasts/ coral reefs/ sea floor, involving local communities involving local communities | Yes |
Specific Measures:
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| Product Specific Measures: ALDFG | |
| Taken/to be taken National Level Action and/or Community Level Action on Clean sea initiatives including ghost net retrieval, ocean-bound plastics etc. | No |
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has implemented various environmental practices and initiatives to protect the marine environment. |
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| Taken actions for preventing abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) being generated. | No |
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has implemented various environmental practices and initiatives to protect the marine environment. |
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| Created/creating collection/recycling mechanism for ALDFG | No |
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has implemented various environmental practices and initiatives to protect the marine environment. |
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| Partnership and Innovation | |
| Boost multi-stakeholder involvement and awareness-raising | Yes |
| Encourage/ Incentivize action by private sector companies to reduce/ sustainably manage their plastic waste. | Yes |
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Specific Measures:
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| Encourage public awareness on MPL issues through formal education system and/or curriculum for | Yes |
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Specific Measures:
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| Promote innovative solutions through Research & Development (e.g., subsidy program, investment fund etc.) | Yes |
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Specific Measures:
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| Monitoring, Data Management, Understanding Flow of Plastics/MPL | |
| Conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of plastic products. What are the challenges if LCA is not conducted? | - |
| Conduct Material Flow Analysis (MFA) on plastics. What are the challenges if MFA is not conducted? | - |
| Conduct monitoring / estimation / scientific research on leakage of plastics/microplastics to the natural environment and/or flow of ocean surface. What are the challenges if these actions are not conducted? |
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| International Collaboration | |
| Participate in international cooperation through international organizations, multi-national groups, etc. | Yes |
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Specific Measures: |
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| Support target region by your international cooperation initiatives/projects: South, Central and Southeast Asia | Yes |
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Specific Measures: |
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Challenges
■ Recycling system improvement
Specific Challenges:
Establishing the best available technologies for recycling is essential to addressing the challenge of plastic pollution, which is rooted in the mismanagement of plastic waste. A key challenge is transferring innovative and advanced recycling technologies.
To effectively tackle plastic pollution, it is crucial to specify arrangements for capacity-building, technical assistance, and technology transfer. One of the successful implementation of solutions to plastic pollution is highly dependent on the availability of these capacity-building and technology transfer initiatives.
Contact Details
Name: Nawaf Essam Bilasi, Ph.D., P.E.
Position: Advisor
Division: International Cooperation Unit
Organization: National Center for Waste Management
Email: [email protected]