Article 6 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
المادة 6 من نظام إدارة النفايات · الفصل الثاني: أحكام عامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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، وذلك وفقاً 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 6 explained in plain English
This article deals with voluntary work in the waste field, such as clean-up campaigns or initiatives to collect recyclable materials.
The rule: every person concerned with implementing voluntary programs, plans or initiatives relating to waste management must meet the controls issued by the Center, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
"Person" under Article 1 means a natural or legal person, so it includes individuals, associations and companies carrying out these initiatives.
The article does not state the content of the controls, which are issued by the Center and regulated by the Implementing Regulations. Nor does the article treat a voluntary initiative as a licensed activity; it merely obliges those running it to meet the Center's controls.
The article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to what the relevant legal provisions require", meaning that the Center's controls do not cancel what other relevant laws impose on these initiatives.
The purpose is for voluntary work to be consistent with the waste management system, so that waste collected voluntarily does not end up in unsuitable places. Article 5 sets the priorities of waste management (recycling, then resource recovery, then safe disposal), and Article 7 regulates the transfer of ownership of waste to the State by placing it in designated containers, near them, or in public places.
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 civil association in Al Khobar organizes a voluntary campaign to clean the beach and collect plastic bottles. Under this article, the association must meet the controls issued by the National Center for Waste Management for these initiatives, as 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 6 of the Saudi Waste Management Law
Are there controls for voluntary waste collection initiatives?
Yes. Every person concerned with implementing voluntary programs, plans or initiatives relating to waste management must meet the controls issued by the Center, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
Do the Center's controls cancel other laws?
No. The article provides that this is without prejudice to what the relevant legal provisions require.
More articles on Waste Management License and Permit
- Article 4
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.
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.
- 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.
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.