Saudi Arabia

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Measures

Achievements

Education and awareness raising

Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues

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.