Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has revealed a plan to reach a recycling rate of up to 95 percent which will contribute about SAR120 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP). The initiative forms part of the kingdom’s effort to develop its waste management sector.
Saudi Arabia also aims to achieve sustainability by recycling 100 million tons of waste annually. In addition, it seeks to provide more than 100,000 job opportunities for Saudi citizens in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Sustainable development
The ministry announced these goals in its year-end report detailing its 2023 performance and plans for 2024. The report confirmed the kingdom’s environmental endeavors to achieve sustainable development goals through well-thought-out plans and strategies in all its sectors. The most prominent of these strategies is the National Environment Strategy. It is a clear institutional framework that includes more than 65 initiatives in the sector and investments worth more than SAR55 billion.
The report also indicated that the waste management sector is currently recycling only 3 to 4 percent of Saudi Arabia’s waste. The plan includes recycling Saudi Arabia’s harmful industrial waste, such as medical waste, and dealing with it in a scientifically correct and sound manner.
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Ecosystems and natural reserves
The report also revealed that the ministry was able to preserve more than 90,000 hectares of afforestation. Moreover, it planted more than 50 million trees. This was accompanied by an increase in the level of community awareness. Moreover, the ministry’s monitoring efforts and environmental commitment contributed to raising the quality of life in Saudi Arabia.
The report also confirmed that the dust storms recorded by the Dust Storm Center in Saudi Arabia decreased, recording only 10 percent. This is largely due to the great presence of reserves and the increase in rainfall. Saudi Arabia also adopted the cloud seeding program to increase rainfall. Moreover, the kingdom was able to preserve more than 99,000 hectares of land and plant approximately 50 million trees in all regions of the kingdom.
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