Municipal solid waste generation, composition and public awareness in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract. Solid waste threatens the ecosystem and human health, it may be a great economic wealth that could generate millions if it was properly exploited and recycled again. The per capita production rate of solid waste in Saudi Arabia is one of the highest rates in the world. According to Saudi Vision 2030, a plan has been developed to build waste recycling companies in all the cities of Saudi Arabia. The total amount of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) in Riyadh is estimated at 10,000 tons per day. The average amount of solid waste per capita per day is estimated at 1.80 kg. The study has two parts, the first one presents the current situation of MSW management in Riyadh by considering several factors; generation rates, composition, treatment methods, recycling ways, etc. In the second part, the opinion of residents of the city of Riyadh was surveyed regarding the quantity of municipal solid waste, its types, the collection process, and the extent of their satisfaction. The results show that the districts in the south of Riyadh have the highest generation of MSW.