Management Practices of Urban Waste in Saudi Arabia

The management of solid waste in Saudi Arabia practices the conventional method of collection, transportation, and open dumping without treating the waste, posing a severe risk to health and the environment. With the growing volume of waste generation resulting from the rising population growth coupled with the rapid pace of economic development, the municipalities in some major cities cannot manage waste efficiently due to a haphazard waste management system diverting most waste to landfills. Owing to these, the Kingdom has recently taken requisite measures to manage waste sustainably, including Waste Management Law 2021, Vision 2030 and the Middle East Green Initiative. This paper presents the status of the management practices in the Kingdom, primarily focusing on its composition and regulations, concepts, and technological viability in conjunction with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper intends to seek sustainable policy and technological solutions to waste problems in the Kingdom and highlight the opportunities and challenges associated with waste management.