Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Meshary Al-Qweizani, director general of Sector Development for the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN), said that 82% of all types of waste dumps would be excluded in Saudi Arabia by 2035.

Al-Qweizani made his statements during the Investment Forum in the Waste Management Sector, in Riyadh, under the patronage of Eng. Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, who is also the chairman of the Board of Directors of MWAN.

He said that this target aims to benefit from landfills and transform them from an environmental burden into a major resource-based area on the principles of the circular economy.

With the completion of the transformation in this sector, Saudi Arabia will witness positive environmental, economic and social impacts, Al-Qweizani noted.

During the forum, he referred to the environmental contribution to reducing 73 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, as well as saving 60 million barrels of oil in energy consumption.

While on the economic side, it will contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP) by SR120 billion, in addition to establishing 1,200 waste management facilities, and creating 77,000 jobs.

Al-Qweizani has estimated the volume of investments in Riyadh at SR80 billion for 28 opportunities.