Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

Saudi Arabia

Actions and Progress on Marine Plastic Litter
Last Update : 2021/09/06

Policy framework

The new national strategy for the sustainable management of wastes within the principles of circular economy, reflected in the ambitious diversion and recycling targets (from landfills) to be achieved by 2035. A new Strategic Master Plan project that will kick off before the end of the year will further provide key long term guidance on the sustainable development of the sector with the aim to achieve the said targets.

Name:
National action plan for sustainable management of Marine Litter in the Red Sea coast of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Brief description:
The plan is part of a regional effort by the “The Regional Organization for Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden”. A final draft of the action plan is currently undergoing final stages of approval before implementation. Key components include: Public awareness campaigns, engagement plans with key stakeholders, evaluation of enforcement mechanisms, adequacy of port reception facilities at the red sea, developing and monitoring flagship demonstration actions, engage private companies to phase out single use plastic bags, water bottles, straws, etc…plan for coastal land owners to regularly collect litter plastic from their area of operation, re-survey beaches with baseline data, support local marine research institutes to protect coastal marine environment from littering in addition to training and capacity building.

Legal framework

Name:
new draft “Waste Management Law”

Brief description:
The new draft law provides for key requirements for waste minimization, segregation and recycling. It also provides for the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility principles and the strict regulation of waste activities across the value chain from point of generation to final treatment with key emphasis on circular economy principles. It also provides for stringent monitoring and penalties for violations including illegal dumping and burning of wastes.

Measures

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

The national center for waste management is promoting the circular economy activation, EPR is a major part of this program.

There has been communication with different stakeholders to prevent and reduce plastic waste generation. Key initiatives prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation include:

List of initiatives:

  • (PepsiCo, SABIC, and NCWM) closed loop initiative
  • EPR (currently considering various option to introduce fees on users of single use plastic bags)

Measures

Achievements

Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws)

Names of actions:
A study has been launched by the NCWM to develop the appropriate EPR business model for managing single use plastic bags and considering a range of options including bans, imposing user fee and/or a combination.

Targeted products:
The Key Objective of Project:

  1. Recover some of the costs related to managing the waste streams,
  2. Change societal behaviors in regards to waste management by charging a specific financial fee in order to reduce production costs, divert from landfills and encourage recycling and resource recovery,
  3. Reduce Waste Generation

The main scope is included the study of current situation of three streams, provide the best international practices that implement the EPR, review the regulation and proposed the responsible policies. the study will include proposing fees and the implementation Plan for EPR System and proposed the regulator & organizational Framework

Brief description:
A key initiative by National Center for Waste Management (NCWM) to achieve the targets of the national waste strategy through waste diversion from landfills and implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principles which recover some of the costs related to managing the waste streams investment, operation, maintenance of facilities and equipment, service improvement, etc.

We do not see any particular trend

Measures

Achievements

Environmentally sound waste management

Enforcement of proper waste management system

Names of actions:
New draft of waste management law

Brief description:
Provides for the strict monitoring and enforcement of various practices including illegal dumping and burning of wastes. It also includes harsh penalties for violators.

We do not see any particular trend

Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean

Names of actions:
National action plan for sustainable management of Marine Litter in the Red Sea coast of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Brief description:
The components of the above plan have been briefly presented in item 2 above. We believe that once implemented in conjunction with the new “Waste management Law” , those will help to significantly reduce littering and leakage of waste into the marine environment.

We do not see any particular trend

Measures

Achievements

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Names of actions:
National action plan for sustainable management of Marine Litter in the Red Sea coast of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Brief description:
Refer to section 2 of this document

We do not see any particular trend

Removal of plastic litter from the ocean

Names of actions:
National action plan for sustainable management of Marine Litter in the Red Sea coast of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Brief description:
Refer to section 2 of this document

We do not see any particular trend

Measures

Achievements

Promotion of innovative solutions

Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on’)

Names of actions:
Adopted diversion and recycling targets to be achieved by 2035

Brief description:
The adopted targets for diversion from landfills, recycling and resource recovery are to be achieved by 2035, including a 82% diversion rate from landfills. In addition, EPR concepts adopted in the new draft law will further help to develop recycling activities and the implementation of circular economy principles.

We do not see any particular trend

Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution

Names of actions:
The Mandate of National Center for Waste Management

Brief description:
The NCWM Mandate calls for promoting private investments in waste activities for the purpose of developing innovative solutions and achieving economic sustainability for the sector.

We do not see any particular trend

Measures

Achievements

Education and awareness raising

Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues

This item has been listed as a key component of the National Action Plan as described in section 2 above. We do not see any particular trend

Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL

National level:

Names of actions:
National action plan for sustainable management of Marine Litter in the Red Sea coast of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Brief description:
Produce, publish and / or disseminate education and awareness materials, using electronic media, information sheets, brochure, booklets, videos, CDs and other media .

  • Organise awareness workshops on the impact of marine litter for various stakeholders, such as teachers and government officials. .
  • Develop strong linkages with key government departments to inform officials/decision-makers about important information relating to the environmental effects of marine litter..
  • Develop strong linkages with newspaper reporters/editors to encourage them to communicate information about the environmental and health impacts of marine litter.

International / Regional level:

Names of actions:
National action plan for sustainable management of Marine Litter in the Red Sea coast of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Brief description:
Refer to item above

National level:

We do not see any particular trend

Local level:

We do not see any particular trend

Measures

Achievements

Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter

Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Names of actions:
National action plan for sustainable management of Marine Litter in the Red Sea coast of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Brief description:
Expand the number of beaches along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia where marine litter baseline has been established.

Regularly (1-2 years) re-survey beaches that have baseline data. Encourage and support local marine institutes and universities to undertake research to determine the social and economic impacts of marine litter in the Red Sea region of Saudi Arabia.

Encourage and support local marine institutes and universities to conduct research on protective and regulatory measures for protecting the coastal and marine environments from litter arising from urban or rural areas..

 

Engagement in international/regional level actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Names of actions:
PERSIGA

Brief description:
PERSGA together with support from the World Bank is implementing the GEF fund- ed project “Strategic Ecosystem Based Management of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden”,.

The SEM Project focuses on improving management of marine resources in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden through building on resource protection, incentive systems for communities and harmonization of the knowledge base of marine resources between PERSGA member countries. These outcomes will be achieved through the provision of technical assistance for selected MPAs, including awareness of participatory approach in using marine resources applying Ecosystem Based Management principles.

We do not see any particular trend

Challenges

  • Recycling system improvement
  • Proper waste management system (including lack of local capacity)
  • Data collection related to waste in general
  • Data collection related to marine plastic litter
  • Lack of awareness among citizens, business, local governments

Best practices

Sabic innovative solutions in reducing plastic waste generation

International cooperation

Regional cooperation by PERSIGA

Contact details

Dr. Abdullah Fisal Sbai
asbai@mewa.gov.sa
ceo@mwan.gov.sa

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