The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced an ambitious agenda to significantly enhance its waste recycling capabilities, aiming to process up to 95% of the nation’s waste. This strategic move is projected to make a substantial contribution to the economy, injecting an estimated SR120 billion ($31.99 billion) into the country’s gross domestic product.
The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the job market as well, with the creation of over 100,000 new employment opportunities for Saudi nationals. With plans to recycle around 100 million tons of waste each year, the initiative is a key component of the nation’s sustainability drive.
Details of this comprehensive plan were outlined in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s annual report, which also laid out objectives for the upcoming year. The report underscores the alignment of this recycling scheme with Saudi Arabia’s broader sustainable development goals, which are integrated into the National Environment Strategy and other sectoral plans.
Investments exceeding SR55 billion are earmarked for the execution of this strategic framework, which includes over 65 targeted initiatives. These initiatives are designed to build upon existing environmental achievements, such as the preservation of more than 90,000 hectares and the planting of over 50 million trees throughout the Kingdom.
The ministry’s efforts have not only enhanced environmental preservation but also heightened public awareness and compliance with environmental standards, contributing to an improved quality of life for the community.
Reflecting the country’s commitment to waste management solutions, the King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Co. and the Saudi Investment Recycling Co. (SIRC) recently formalized a memorandum of understanding. This collaboration is focused on meeting national objectives in waste management and recycling.
The agreement was signed in the Saudi capital at an event dedicated to discussing national waste management and recycling targets. Ziyad Al-Shiha, CEO of SIRC, and Gautam Sashittal, CEO of KAFD DMC, were the signatories on this occasion.
Al-Shiha shared with the media that SIRC is establishing a sophisticated recycling infrastructure that encompasses material recovery facilities and collection centers, all of which are outfitted with cutting-edge technology for sorting, processing, and repurposing various types of waste materials. He emphasized the importance of waste sorting and segregation at the source, urging individuals, businesses, and communities to play their part in improving recycling rates and reducing landfill usage.