The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has awarded a solid waste management contract to a joint venture between waste management company Averda and the Saudi Naval Support Company (SNS). The three-year contract is said to prioritise recycling for the project which aims for ‘zero waste to landfill’ even throughout construction of phase one.

According to a statement, the partnership involves collecting and recycling waste generated by administration offices, residential facilities, and construction activities, meeting the high environmental standards set for the project and with the goal of ‘zero waste to landfill’.

The scope of work also includes sewage collection services, involving the collection and transportation of the sewage via tanker trucks to the sewage treatment plant in Yanbu, until the construction and commissioning of the temporary sewage treatment plant (STP) for the project is completed.

“We’re uncompromising in our commitment to protect, preserve and enhance the natural environment. Pioneering new standards in sustainable development to achieve this goal is at the heart of The Red Sea Project, as is selecting the right partners who are willing and able to support our ambition. We are pleased to award this contract and feel confident that both organisations will play a key role in the delivery of our aim to achieve zero waste to landfill even during the construction phase, collecting and sorting waste to ensure where appropriate, waste is recycled, composted or incinerated,” said John Pagano, CEO of The Red Sea Development Company.

Recycling and reusing waste underpin this contract approach, as it will support the company in designing, building, and operating Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) plants, the statement said. The recyclable material that is recovered from both the MSW and CDW stream will be transferred for further processing or used as fill material on the project.

A composting unit will be used for turning organic-rich waste into compost to be used for the project’s landscaped areas and in the site nursery. Incinerators are used for processing non-recyclable waste and the ash generated is mixed with cement for the production of bricks, the statement explained.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to serve this prestigious project. It gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our expertise in the waste management sector and that when leveraged correctly, our approach can contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for sustainability and circular carbon economy concepts,” said Wissam Zantout, MD – Saudi Arabia at Averda.