RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is set to process approximately 3 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually to produce refuse-derived fuels in six governorates following a new agreement. The new plastic waste management project, a collaboration between MVW Lechtenberg and Partner, a German environmental consulting firm, and Norwegian solution provider Empower, is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 1,791,300 tonnes per year. This will contribute to achieving the Kingdom’s environmental sustainability goals toward a greener future, aiming to mitigate pollution and protect natural resources. It also aligns with the nation’s endeavors to achieve sustainable development goals through well-designed plans and processes in all its sectors, including the National Environment Strategy. To bolster the capabilities and extend the reach of this initiative, MVW Lechtenberg and Partner Middle East and the Saudi Investment Recycling Co. have established a joint venture. SIRC is a key player in this project, serves as the executive arm for waste management in Saudi Arabia, and is wholly owned by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund. Empower’s blockchain technology will be crucial to this project. It will enable transparent tracking and management of plastic trash from collection to recycling and include refuse-derived fuel conversion. This system will allow real-time monitoring of waste management activities, delivering valuable data to stakeholders such as municipalities, governments, and environmental organizations. One important aspect of this project involves combining plastic credits with refuse-derived fuel. This will incentivize responsible waste disposal by providing financial rewards for verified plastic waste collection and recycling activities. The credits are tradable and can be sold to organizations seeking to offset their plastic impact or meet environmental standards, promoting a circular economy approach. In January, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture unveiled a plan to recycle up to 95 percent of the country’s waste, a move it claims will contribute SR120 billion ($31.99 billion) to the gross domestic product, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The initiative will help create over 100,000 jobs in the sector for Saudi nationals and seeks to recycle up to 100 million tonnes of waste annually in a push toward its sustainability efforts.