Article 16 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
المادة 16 من نظام إدارة النفايات · الفصل الخامس: مسؤولية مقدم الخدمة
The article sets out the obligations of the waste management service provider: disposing of waste by the methods the Center specifies, verifying waste information and the transport document, periodic reports, and accepting waste within its license.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- على مقدم الخدمة التخلص من النفايات بالطرق التي يحددها المركز ووفقاً للائحة.
2- على مقدم الخدمة التأكد من صحة المعلومات المتعلقة بالنفايات التي ترد له، واستكمال معلومات سجل ووثيقة النقل، والتأكد من أنها داخلة ضمن اختصاصه المرخص له.
3- على مقدم الخدمة المتعاقد مع إحدى الجهات الحكومية تقديم تقارير دورية للمركز، وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
4- على مقدمي خدمات النقل والتخزين والمعالجة والتخلص الآمن؛ الالتزام بمتطلبات وثيقة النقل، وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
5- على مقدمي خدمات المعالجة والتدوير والتخلص الآمن؛ قبول أي نوع من أنواع النفايات الداخلة ضمن اختصاصاتهم المرخصة لهم.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article brings together the main obligations of the service provider, who under Article 1 is the licensee or permit holder authorized to carry out a waste management activity. There are five obligations:
- Method of disposal: disposing of waste by the methods the Center specifies and in accordance with the Implementing Regulations.
- Verification and documentation: verifying the accuracy of the information about the waste that reaches him, completing the information in the record and the transport document, and making sure the waste falls within the scope for which he is licensed.
- Reports: if the service provider is contracted with a government body, he must submit periodic reports to the Center in accordance with the Implementing Regulations.
- The transport document: providers of transport, storage, treatment and safe disposal services must comply with the requirements of the transport document under the Implementing Regulations. Under Article 1, the transport document is the form specified by the competent authority to track waste from the point of production to the point of storage, treatment or safe disposal.
- Accepting waste: providers of treatment, recycling and safe disposal services must accept any type of waste falling within the scope of their licenses.
The fifth obligation is important for waste producers, since a treatment, recycling or safe disposal provider may not refuse a type of waste that falls within the scope for which he is licensed.
Note that some obligations apply generally to every service provider (the first and second), and some apply to particular categories (the third, fourth and fifth).
Article 15 makes the Center the regulator of contracting between the competent authority and service providers, and Article 17 sets additional obligations on those licensed to transport hazardous 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 licensed to treat waste oils in Yanbu receives a shipment of used oil from a factory. It must verify the accuracy of the shipment's information, complete the record and the transport document, and make sure it falls within its licensed scope. As long as the shipment falls within its scope, it may not refuse to accept it.
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 16 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
May a waste treatment company refuse to receive waste?
Providers of treatment, recycling and safe disposal services must accept any type of waste falling within the scope of their licenses.
What is the waste transport document?
It is the form specified by the competent authority to track waste from the point of production to the point of storage, treatment or safe disposal, and providers of transport, storage, treatment and safe disposal services must comply with its requirements.
Does the service provider submit reports to the Center?
Yes. If he is contracted with a government body, he must submit periodic reports to the Center as set by the Implementing Regulations.
More articles on Obligations of the Waste Management Service Provider
- 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
- Article 25
The article requires a service provider operating a waste management facility to provide a financial guarantee or insurance covering its civil liability for damages when it obtains the license.
على مقدم الخدمة الذي يقوم بتشغيل منشأة لإدارة النفايات -عند حصوله على الرخصة- أن يقدم ضماناً ماليًّا أو تأميناً يغطي مسؤوليته عن الأضرار المتعلقة بالمسؤولية الم
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.