Deploying Municipal Solid Waste Management 3R-WTE Framework in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Future

Laith A. Hadidi, Ahmed Ghaithan, Awsan Mohammed and Khalaf Al-Ofi
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Laith A. Hadidi: Construction Engineering and Management Department, College of Environmental Design, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Ghaithan: Construction Engineering and Management Department, College of Environmental Design, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Awsan Mohammed: Construction Engineering and Management Department, College of Environmental Design, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Khalaf Al-Ofi: Construction Engineering and Management Department, College of Environmental Design, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-18

Abstract: The need for resilience and an agile waste management system in Saudi Arabia is vital to control safely the rapid growth of its municipal solid waste (MSW) with minimal environment toll. Similarly, the domestic energy production in Saudi Arabia is thriving and putting a tremendous pressure on its huge reserves of fossil oil. Waste to energy (WTE) plants provides a golden opportunity for Saudi Arabia; however, both challenges (MSW mitigation and energy production) are usually looked at in isolation. This paper at first explores the potential of expanding the WTE energy production in the eastern province in Saudi Arabia under two scenarios (complete mass burn with and without recycling). Secondly, this study analyzes the effect of 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) practices implementation in a residential camp (11,000 population) to influence the behavior of the camp’s citizens to reduce their average waste (kg/capita). The results of the 3R-WTE framework show a potential may reach 254 Megawatt (MW) of electricity by year 2030. The 3R system implementation in the camp reduced MSW production from 5,625 tons to 3000 tons of household waste every year, which is considered lower than what the surrounding communities to be produced in the same area.

Keywords: municipal solid waste (MSW); 3R-WTE; solid waste management; sustainability evaluation; waste-to-energy (WTE); Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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