Recycling is the process of converting certain components of waste into usable materials in order to retrieve them as primary raw materials in manufacturing processes. Remediation is the use of physical, biological, or chemical means to alter the characteristics of wastes, in order to reduce their volume or facilitate their handling when reused, or to remove organic and other pollutants in order to reduce or eliminate the potential for causing harm to humans or the natural environment from soil, groundwater or air. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 includes an ambitious plan for the future of the Kingdom, which includes protecting the environment and developing the concept of waste management through what is known as the circular economy. Rather than using a resource only once, as is the practice in many advanced societies, the circular economy aims to reuse the same resource. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and saves cost. For the first time in its history, Saudi Aramco used recycled plastic to build a road along a highway owned by the company. Recycled plastic has the ability to increase the strength of the asphalt concrete mixture after adding it and reduces the amount of bitumen used in the asphalt mixture by 10%, making it an economical option. The use of plastic also improves the hardness and durability of the asphalt mixture, and the overall efficiency of asphalt pavement, making it a sustainable and environmentally friendly option. With plastic waste being a real problem for the environment, plastic road technology contributes to a circular economy by reducing waste and enhancing the continuity of used plastic.
Hazardous Waste Management
Hazardous waste is waste from industrial or non-industrial activities that contains toxic substances, flammable or reactive substances, corrosive substances, solvents, degreasers, oils, colorants (inks), pasty deposits, acids and alkalis, or industrial substances that the National Center for Waste Management may classify as hazardous waste. The Kingdom invests in the treatment and recovery of materials such as Tires and electronics to turn them into valuable resources for the manufacture of new products, as these types of waste can cause severe pollution and usually require a special method of handling and disposal due to their biological and chemical properties.
Medical Waste Management
Medical waste is waste generated by medical entities, both inside and outside hospitals, including blood, body fluids, medical instruments, and waste medication. In order to obtain an environmental qualification certificate in the field of medical waste management, an online application must be submitted, a form must be filled out, the general and special requirements must be highlighted according to the activities practiced in accordance with relevant conditions.
Saudi Electricity Company's Initiative to Recycle Waste
The Saudi Electricity Company relies in the production of electrical energy on various sources of non-renewable energy, materials and natural resources, as the increase in demand for electricity means an increase in the depletion of these resources, an increase in pollution resulting from burning fuel, and the circulation of various types of oils, in addition to generating waste from various operations of the company, which makes us face a great challenge that must double efforts and responsibility towards protecting the environment. In this context, the company has prepared and published its environmental policy with the aim of preserving the environment and public health and supporting sustainable development while adhering to national and international environmental standards. It formed a technical team representing all the company's activities and developed an ambitious implementation plan that includes goals, objectives, time programs, tasks, and responsibilities to activate this policy and translate it into reality.