Article 4 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
المادة 4 من نظام إدارة النفايات · الفصل الثاني: أحكام عامة
The article prohibits carrying out any activity relating to waste management without first obtaining a license or permit from the Center, according to the conditions of each activity and the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز ممارسة أي نشاط يتعلق بإدارة النفايات إلا بعد الحصول على رخصة أو تصريح من المركز، وذلك بحسب شروط ومتطلبات كل نشاط، ووفقاً 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 4 explained in plain English
This is one of the most important articles of the Law for anyone working in the waste sector, because it sets the rule of prior licensing.
The rule: no activity relating to waste management may be carried out without first obtaining a license or permit from the National Center for Waste Management.
An activity relating to waste management is broad: under the definition in Article 1, it includes collecting, transporting, sorting, storing, treating, recycling, importing, exporting and safely disposing of waste, and aftercare of disposal sites.
Article 1 distinguishes between:
- The license: a written permission issued by the Center to carry out any activity relating to waste management.
- The permit: a document the Center grants to waste recycling facilities stating that they meet its controls and requirements, before they obtain the licenses issued by the competent authorities under their regulations.
The conditions and requirements vary according to each activity, and are set by the Implementing Regulations. The conditions for transporting hazardous waste, for example, are not like those for sorting paper.
Whoever obtains the license or permit becomes a "service provider" under the definitions. The service provider is then bound by the priorities of Article 5: recycling, then resource recovery, then safe disposal.
Article 3 excludes radioactive, nuclear and military waste from the provisions of the Law.
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
Majed wants to launch a project in Riyadh to collect cardboard and plastic from shops and transport it to a recycling plant. This is an activity relating to waste management, so he may not start it until he obtains a license from the National Center for Waste Management under the activity conditions set by 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 4 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
Do I need a license to carry out an activity in the waste field?
Yes. No activity relating to waste management may be carried out without first obtaining a license or permit from the Center.
Who issues the waste management license?
The National Center for Waste Management, under the conditions and requirements of each activity set by the Implementing Regulations.
What is meant by the permit for recycling facilities?
A document the Center grants to waste recycling facilities stating that they meet its controls and requirements, before they obtain the licenses of the competent authorities.
More articles on Waste Management License and Permit
- Article 5
The article obliges everyone carrying out a waste management activity to deliver the best environmental and economic results according to these priorities: recycling, then resource recovery, then safe disposal.
على كل من يمارس نشاطاً يتعلق بإدارة النفايات تقديم أفضل النتائج البيئية والاقتصادية، وفق الأولويات الآتية: 1- التدوير. 2- استرداد الموارد. 3- التخلص الآمن.
- Article 6
The article obliges every person concerned with implementing voluntary programs, plans or initiatives relating to waste management to meet the controls issued by the Center under the Implementing Regulations.
دون إخلال بما تقضي به الأحكام النظامية ذات الصلة، على كل شخص معني بتنفيذ برامج أو خطط أو مبادرات تطوعية تتعلق بإدارة النفايات؛ استيفاء الضوابط الصادرة من المركز
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.