The Kingdom produces three million ton of electronic wastes annually. Electronic waste is considered an environmental problem because of the effects they can cause if they are not recycled or disposed properly. A recent study showed that Arab countries lose about SR 5 billion annually as a result of a failure to recycle wastes. While talking with Nadim Al Hamid of Arab News, Sulaiman Al-Zabin, director of Chemical Safety and Hazardous Wastes at the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), said that the government has sought to improve the performance of the hazardous wastes management sector in general through creating an administration designated for this vital sector.
What is the Kingdom’s policy for electronic wastes?
Sulaiman Al-Zabin: “We have a policy for hazardous wastes in general, which is based on the Environment Regulation law. The recycling and disposal of some electronic wastes is a challenge to developed countries. However, developing countries are more affected especially when cheap, low-quality electronics with lesser specifications are exported to them. This affects the economies and environments of developing countries because of their inability to dispose of the wastes or recycle them.
“The Saudi government has sought to improve the performance of the hazardous wastes management sector in general through creating an administration designated for this vital sector. The administration works on putting in place a national strategy for hazardous wastes. It also has ambitious plans for the recycling and disposal as per our national regulations and international conventions and standards.
“The PME has approached the private sector and sought to remove any obstruction facing investors including its review of private sector’s plans and studies on waste management in general and the management of electronic wastes in particular.
“Saudi Arabia is one of the pioneers in terms of attention to the field of waste management. Recently it started to prepare an integrated plan for managing all types of wastes countrywide. In addition to legislations and special procedures and standards for managing electronic wastes, the plan includes reducing the rates of produced wastes and encouraging the private sector to invest in recycling, energy recovery and metal reclamation ventures. Procedures that will be implemented include restrictions on the import of electronics that do not meet international standards. If the Ministry of Finance approves the plan, the PME will carry out a study on the development of regulations, standards and strategies related to waste management, including specifications for electronics that meet environmental standards.”
Who is responsible for regulating, collecting and managing electronic wastes?
“There are bodies responsible for enacting legislations for disposal and management of electronic wastes, another party to collect them and others to regulate the circulation of electronics before they become wastes. Municipalities collect the wastes and some traders buy them to recycle them or fix usable materials and sell them abroad as used electronics.”
What is the stance of industrial and commercial chambers in the Kingdom regarding the issue?
“Specialists at chambers realize that an economic resource for the Kingdom is wasted as a result of the lack of waste recycling projects in general. Being representatives of the business sector in their regions, the chambers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Eastern Province and other regions have made feasibility studies on investments in wastes recycling, including electronic wastes. These studies will be provided to investors who will be invited after environment-related bodies and municipalities carry out an awareness campaign to introduce the best ways to categorize wastes from home – separating electronic wastes at the source.”
What are the effects of electronic wastes like mobile and laptop batteries on the environment?
“These wastes contain large quantities of poisonous substances that harm the environment like lead, cadmium, cathode ray tubes and mercury. These substances have a lot of effect. Lead, which can directly affect the nervous system, blood circulation, kidneys and the immune system, is found in computers panels, monitors, batteries and other electronics. Cadmium can affect the kidneys and is found largely in cathode ray tubes. Mercury, very poisonous, is found largely in medical electronics, mobiles, sensors and others. 22 percent of the annual mercury consumption worldwide is in these devices. The use of it has risen largely lately following the developments in the manufacturing of modern screens.”