Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

Hefty fines and penalties for violators of hazardous material disposal laws, say Saudi officials

Hefty fines and penalties for violators of hazardous material disposal laws, say Saudi officials

The National Center for Environmental Compliance said those who illegally dispose of “hazardous materials in environmental surroundings” face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to SR30 million ($8 million), or both penalties.

The penalties are due to “the gravity of this violation and the resulting severe damage to the environment,” according to the center’s official spokesman, Abdullah Sayel Al-Mutairi.

According to Saudi Arabia’s environmental laws, hazardous waste is “waste that causes harm to the environment, its components, and human health, and retains dangerous or infectious properties, such as high toxicity, explosiveness, or interaction, and has no use unless it is treated in accordance with special requirements.”


(L to R) Dr. Fahd Turkestani, Abdullah Sayel Al-Mutairi and Dr. Sattam Al-Mojil.

Al-Mutairi urged citizens, residents, and public and private facilities to “avoid the disposal of hazardous materials in environmental surroundings” and to report any cases of improper disposal to preserve the environment.

The spokesman emphasized the importance of obtaining the necessary licenses and permits before engaging in any activity that may have an impact on the environment.

Sattam Al-Mojil, assistant professor of environmental engineering at King Saud University, said this action is part of the National Environment Strategy 2030, in accordance with which many regulations have been created in order to achieve national objectives as well as sectoral and regional targets for environmental development.

Hazardous pollutants, whether liquid, solid, or gaseous, are viewed as primary pollutants that should be dealt with accordingly because of the significant harm they pose to the environment’s components, such as soil and surface water, and to living organisms. As a result, those who improperly dispose of hazardous waste now face harsher penalties.

Al-Mojil, who is also an advisor at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, noted that there are numerous programs, initiatives and joint government efforts with private sector participation aimed at achieving sound waste management in the Kingdom.

He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the risks and necessary procedures and providing treatment plants or finding suitable landfills for the final disposal of hazardous waste, with capacities compatible with industrial and economic activity in the region.

Al-Mojil said that this latest step is a continuation of previous efforts and will be improved upon until targets are met. The hefty fines will help to ensure the proper management of hazardous waste, from production sites to the final stage of disposal, in a systematic manner.

Among these efforts is the Kingdom’s Comprehensive Waste Management Project, which was prepared in 2018 by the Ministry of Economy and Planning and which would see the establishment of a center to control all types of waste management in the Kingdom, both hazardous and non-hazardous.

Dr. Fahd Turkestani, associate professor of chemistry at Umm Al-Qura University, said that waste “comes primarily from factories that use hazardous and toxic chemicals such as cobalt, nickel, cyanide, and mercury.”

Radioactive waste is considered hazardous to the land and lethal to living organisms and may have a direct impact on groundwater or water resources as it remains in the land for years, causing serious environmental damage.

Turkestani believes that the “severe” penalties imposed on violators of the hazardous material laws are proportionate to their actions, which may be considered crimes against nature.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×