Article 12 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
المادة 12 من نظام إدارة النفايات · الفصل الثالث: مسؤولية منتج النفاية
The article obliges residential and commercial complexes and government administrative bodies, subject to the measures in Article 11, to contract with a licensed service provider, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في المادة (الحادية عشرة) من النظام، على المجمعات السكنية والتجارية والجهات الإدارية الحكومية؛ التعاقد مع مقدم خدمة مرخص له، وذلك وفقًا لما تحدده اللائحة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 12 explained in plain English
This article imposes a contractual obligation on three categories:
- Residential complexes.
- Commercial complexes.
- Government administrative bodies.
These categories must contract with a licensed service provider. Under Article 1, a service provider is a licensee or permit holder authorized to carry out a waste management activity, and a licensee is one who holds a license from the Center. It is therefore not enough to contract with just anyone who collects waste; the provider must be licensed.
The article begins with the phrase "subject to what is stated in Article 11", meaning that contracting does not relieve these bodies of the waste producer measures set out in that article, which are:
- Rationalizing the use of natural materials and resources.
- Reusing products.
- Reducing waste.
- Storing waste in the places designated for it in accordance with the requirements of the Implementing Regulations.
- Sorting waste that can be reused or recycled, the types of which are specified by the Implementing Regulations.
The complex thus contracts with the licensed service provider and remains bound by the measures mentioned.
The article does not define what counts as a residential or commercial complex, or the terms of the contract, but refers the details to the Implementing Regulations.
Article 13 regulates marine vessel and port waste.
If you have a practical case relating to this provision, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in environmental and administrative laws.
Practical example
A company manages a commercial complex in Riyadh with dozens of shops. Under this article, it must contract with a service provider licensed by the Center to manage the waste, while remaining bound to reduce, store and sort waste under Article 11 and the Implementing Regulations.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 12 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
Is a residential complex required to contract with a waste company?
Yes. Residential and commercial complexes and government administrative bodies must contract with a licensed service provider, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
Is it enough to contract with any waste collection company?
No. The service provider must be licensed.
Does contracting relieve the complex of sorting waste?
No. The article requires contracting subject to what is stated in Article 11, including sorting recyclable waste.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Obligations of the Waste Producer
- Article 11
The article obliges the waste producer to rationalize resources, reuse products, reduce waste, store it in designated places, and sort what is recyclable, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
على مُنتج النفاية التقيد بالتدابير الآتية: 1- ترشيد استخدام المواد والموارد الطبيعية. 2- إعادة استخدام المنتجات. 3- تقليل النفايات. 4- تخزين النفايات في الأماكن
- Article 14
The article obliges every producer and importer to bear extended producer responsibility, to achieve financial sustainability of the waste sector on the principle of the circular economy, with procedures set by the Implementing Regulations.
على كل منتج ومستورد، تحمل مسؤولية المنتج الممتدة، تحقيقاً للاستدامة المالية بقطاع إدارة النفايات المبنية على مبدأ الاقتصاد الدائري. وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات والض
- Article 18
The article obliges the transport service provider, if waste cannot be delivered to its approved destination, to return it to its producer, who bears responsibility for treating and disposing of it under the Implementing Regulations.
على مقدم خدمة النقل -في حال عدم إمكان إيصال النفايات بمختلف أنواعها إلى وجهتها المعتمدة- إرجاعها إلى منتج النفاية ليتحمل مسؤولية اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لمعالجت
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.