Article 26 of the Saudi Waste Management Law

This article distributes liability for waste damage in three paragraphs:

1- The waste producer and the service provider: they bear civil and criminal liability for any harm or risk to the environment or to public health and safety, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions. In addition, they are responsible for treating and removing the harm and risks to the environment or to third parties resulting from their management of waste and from the by-products generated by it.

2- The carrier: waste must be transported in a way that does not pollute the environment. If pollution occurs from transport activities, the carrier is responsible for:

• Cleaning operations.
• Restoring the environment to its natural state.
• The resulting damages.

3- Anyone dealing with an unlicensed person: every person who deposits or entrusts waste with a person not licensed to receive it is considered jointly liable with that person for the damages and compensation resulting from that waste. Joint liability means the injured party can claim compensation from either of them.

The third paragraph carries a practical message for every business: dealing with an unlicensed transporter or waste collector does not excuse you, and makes you a partner in liability for the damages.

Article 25 requires the operator of a waste management facility to provide a financial guarantee or insurance covering its civil liability, and Article 27 has the Center determine the amount of liability borne by the service provider or waste producer on scientific and fair bases.

Anyone involved in damage resulting from waste should consult a lawyer specialized in civil matters and compensation.