Article 24 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
المادة 24 من نظام إدارة النفايات · الفصل التاسع: المسؤولية المدنية والجزائية والتأهيل والتعويضات
The article gives examples of waste damage that gives rise to civil or criminal liability, such as property loss, environmental restoration and injury, provided it arises from intent, gross negligence, mismanagement or violation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تشمل الأضرار التي تترتب عليها المسؤولية المدنية أو الجزائية أو كلتاهما -على سبيل المثال لا الحصر- ما يأتي:
1- فقدان الممتلكات أو تلفها، أو الخسارة الاقتصادية الناتجة عن ذلك.
2- تكاليف استعادة الأوضاع الطبيعية في البيئة المتضررة، ما لم تُتخذ التدابير اللازمة لاستعادة الأوضاع الطبيعية.
3- خسارة الدخل الناتج من البيئة المتضررة.
4- الوفاة أو الإصابة أو الإعاقة.
ومع عدم الإخلال بأي حقوق أو تعويضات قد تنشأ بموجب نظام آخر، يشترط أن تكون هذه الأضرار قد نشأت من تعمد إيقاعها، أو الإهمال الجسيم، أو سوء إدارة النفايات، أو عدم الالتزام بالنظام أو 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 24 explained in plain English
This article sets out the damages that give rise to civil liability, criminal liability or both, and it lists them as examples and not exhaustively, meaning others may also be included:
- Loss of or damage to property, or the economic loss resulting from it.
- The costs of restoring the natural conditions of the damaged environment, unless the necessary measures to restore them have been taken.
- Loss of income derived from the damaged environment.
- Death, injury or disability.
Condition of liability: these damages must have arisen from one of the following causes:
- Intentionally causing them.
- Gross negligence.
- Mismanagement of waste.
- Failure to comply with the Law or the Implementing Regulations.
The second item qualifies itself: the costs of restoring the environment fall within the damages unless the necessary measures to restore the natural conditions have been taken.
The article preserves other rights with the phrase "without prejudice to any rights or compensation that may arise under another law", so the injured person does not lose whatever rights they may have under other laws.
Article 25 requires a service provider operating a waste management facility to provide a financial guarantee or insurance covering its civil liability when obtaining the license. Article 23 allows the Center to assign some of its services to the private sector.
Anyone harmed by waste who wants to claim compensation should consult a lawyer specialized in civil matters and compensation.
Practical example
A farmer in Al-Kharj had his farm damaged and his livestock die because of waste leaking from a neighboring facility that did not comply with the storage requirements. The damage to his property and the loss of income from the damaged land are among the damages that give rise to liability, because they arose from failure to comply with the Law or 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 24 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
What damages are compensated under the Waste Management Law?
Examples include loss of or damage to property and economic loss, the costs of restoring the damaged environment, loss of income from it, and death, injury or disability.
When does liability for waste damage arise?
If the damage arose from intentionally causing it, gross negligence, mismanagement of waste, or failure to comply with the Law or the Implementing Regulations.
Does this Law prevent claiming compensation under other laws?
No. The article states that it is without prejudice to any rights or compensation that may arise under another law.
More articles on Civil Liability and Compensation for Waste Damage
- 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
- Article 26
The article makes the waste producer and service provider bear civil and criminal liability for waste management damage, the carrier liable for transport pollution, and anyone depositing waste with an unlicensed person jointly liable with him.
1- يتحمل منتج النفاية ومقدم الخدمة المسؤولية المدنية والجزائية عن أي ضرر أو خطر على البيئة أو على الصحة والسلامة العامة وفقاً لما تحدده الأحكام النظامية ذات الص
- Article 27
The article directs the Center to determine, on scientific and fair bases, the amount of liability borne by a service provider or waste producer for the damages of their activities, to be approved by the Minister under the Implementing Regulations.
مع عدم الإخلال بالأحكام النظامية ذات الصلة، يحدد المركز وفق أسس علمية وعادلة مبلغ المسؤولية التي يتحملها مقدم الخدمة أو منتج النفاية؛ تجاه الأضرار الناتجة عن نش
- Article 35
The article requires the violator to remove the effects of the violation, carry out rehabilitation and pay the resulting compensation, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
على المخالف إزالة الآثار المترتبة على المخالفة وإعادة التأهيل ودفع التعويضات المترتبة على المخالفة، وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
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.