Electrical wire recycling plant

The Recycling Sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries

Technological advancements in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, along with population growth, have led to an increase in the volume of waste generated from human, industrial, and other activities. This growing waste problem has posed a real challenge for GCC governments, requiring them to act swiftly to mitigate environmental and health risks. The total collected waste (both hazardous and non-hazardous) in GCC countries is estimated at approximately 131.8 million tons, with 1.2% classified as hazardous waste and 98.8% as non-hazardous waste.

Key Indicators of the Recycling Sector in the GCC:

The total collected hazardous waste in GCC countries amounts to 1.6 million tons.
The total collected non-hazardous waste in GCC countries amounts to 2 million tons.
Hazardous waste is categorized as follows: 6% medical waste, 81.8% industrial waste, and 12.2% other waste (such as batteries and electronic waste).
Non-hazardous waste is categorized as follows: 40.7% construction waste, 25% household waste, 1.7% green waste, and 32.5% other waste.
51% (67.2 million tons) of the total collected waste has been processed.
The total collected industrial waste in GCC countries is 1.3 million tons, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE generating 63.1% and 19.3% of this waste, respectively.
The total collected non-hazardous household waste in GCC countries is 32 million tons.
The UAE ranks first in terms of recycled waste, accounting for 42.8% of total processed waste.
The amount of hazardous waste recycled in GCC countries is 100,000 tons (9.3%) of the total processed hazardous waste.
Saudi Arabia leads in solid waste production, generating over 16 million tons annually, followed by the UAE with 5.4 million tons annually.

Waste Composition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region:

Food and green waste: 58%
Glass: 3%
Metals: 3%
Paper and cardboard: 13%
Plastic: 12%
Wood: 1%
Rubber and leather: 2%
Other waste: 8%

Waste Treatment in the GCC:

Hazardous waste treatment methods:
- Incineration: 9%
- Landfilling: 51.7%
- Recycling: 9.3%
- Other methods: 30%
Non-hazardous waste treatment methods:
- Landfilling: 51%
- Other methods (incineration, recycling, etc.): 49%

Benefits of the Circular Economy in GCC Countries:

Reducing primary energy consumption by approximately 4%.
Creating 50,000 jobs in the recycling sector.
Reducing CO₂ emissions by 13 million tons annually.
Contributing to economic returns of up to USD 138 billion for GCC countries between 2020 and 2030.

Recommendations:

Mashroo3k Consulting recommends investing in the recycling sector due to the following factors:

Global municipal solid waste production is approximately 2.01 billion tons and is expected to reach 3.40 billion tons by 2050.
In 2014, global e-waste production reached 12.8 million metric tons, rising to 53.6 million metric tons by 2019.
Plastic and paper account for approximately 29% of global waste, making them highly profitable sectors for recycling investment.

Below is a breakdown of global waste types and their percentage share of total waste production:

Saudi Arabia’s Recycling Sector: A Profitable Investment Opportunity

Mashroo3k Consulting confirms that Saudi Arabia now generates over 45 million tons of waste annually. With the kingdom aiming to increase its recycling rate from 1% to 80% by 2035, the company believes that investing in this vital sector will be highly profitable.

Future Prospects for Recycling and Energy Production in Saudi Arabia

Recycling glass and metals alone could save 45,000 terajoules of energy annually in Saudi Arabia.
If all food waste in Saudi Arabia were processed in biogas plants, the country could generate 3 terawatt-hours of electricity per year.
By processing plastic and other mixed waste (such as paper, cardboard, wood, textiles, leather, etc.) through pyrolysis, Saudi Arabia could produce between 1 and 1.6 terawatt-hours of electricity annually.

Mashroo3k Consulting emphasizes that recycling is one of the most promising sectors in Saudi Arabia. With the kingdom’s commitment to a green economy and Vision 2030 prioritizing environmental preservation, recycling projects present real investment opportunities.

The Global Recycling Industry

The global waste management market was valued at $989.2 billion in 2021.
It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2022 to 2030, reaching a market value of $1.685 trillion by 2030.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is projected to see a CAGR of 6.3% in recycling and waste management between 2022 and 2030.
This growth is driven by increasing awareness of the sustainable benefits of recycling and reusing waste.
Population growth, urbanization, economic expansion, and evolving consumption patterns are key factors that necessitate investment in this critical sector.

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