Managing waste sustainably
KAUST startup Edama , which transforms organic waste into compost for desert agriculture needs ,
inaugurated a new industrial composting facility at KAUST in 2022 . Located in the KAUST Research and Technology Park , the facility is the first of its kind in the Kingdom and aims to recycle 100 % of the university ’ s food and green waste , producing about 4,500 m3 of high-quality soil improver with great benefits for local sandy soils . The composting plant will allow KAUST to divert close to 60 % of its total waste from the landfill , while creating a valuable product for KAUST landscaping needs .
KAUST has also advanced its waste management agenda towards zero waste to landfill operations by renewing its contract with waste management contractor Averda , which includes the construction of a full Materials Recovery Facility ( MRF ), aimed at recycling most of KAUST ’ s recyclable waste .
12.3 ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH
Waste to Art
Inauguration ceremony of the new KAUST industrial composting facility
Averda ’ s recycling trucks at KAUST
|
|
Facilities |
Management- |
Central |
Services |
team |
partnered |
with |
Jeddahbased |
|
artist |
Meedo |
Creisat |
to |
showcase |
some of his waste-based |
|
|
demonstrates |
that some of the daily |
throw-away |
materials |
can |
be |
transformed |
into |
playful , |
meaningful , |
and |
thought-provoking |
objects . |
The |
community |
had |
the |
opportunity |
to |
admire |
several |
pieces , |
made |
through |
creative |
techniques where textures and patterns are built up by |
layering plastic strips , smashed cans and patches on top |
of each other . School students from TKS also visited the |
exhibition and had the chance to interact with the pieces , |
inspiring them to look at waste as just another material |
to create what comes to their imagination . The exhibition |
was part of several awareness activities from Earth Day |
aimed to call for responsible consumption . |
Supporting the Kingdom ’ s waste management agenda
KAUST announced in 2022 the signing of an
MoU with the Saudi Investment Recycling Company ( SIRC ), a whollyowned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund ( PIF ). The collaboration solidifies SIRC ’ s commitment towards supporting KAUST startups , technology development projects , and other ongoing R & D to accelerate the transformation of the Kingdom ’ s waste recycling sector towards Vision 2030 goals . As the country rapidly shifts towards a greener economy , Saudi Arabia aims to divert 100 % of municipal solid waste and 85 % of industrial waste from landfills . As a national leader in sustainable technologies , KAUST aims to support SIRC with cutting edge solutions that promote resource circularity and waste valorization .
KAUST and SIRC sign MoU to develop Saudi Arabia ’ s infrastructure and advance the Kingdom ’ s national waste management agenda
Giving a new life to plastics
The
Precious Plastic universe aims to become a global alternative recycling system through community engagement and sharing of knowledge on the reuse of plastic . As part of a continuous effort on raising awareness for responsible consumption and production , the KAUST Students for
Sustainability saw an opportunity to bring the platform to the KAUST community . In 2022 , the group created the KAUST Precious Plastic Project ( P3 ) and secured the necessary funding to purchase the required materials to give a new life to part of the plastic waste produced at KAUST . The project , which was endorsed and sponsored by faculty , waste management teams , and the Office of Sustainability , is currently in the final stages of procurement and space building and will be accessible to anyone with creative ideas and a drive to transform waste into valuable products .
Recycling at KAUST from Jan 2021 to Oct 2022
421
Metric Tonnes of Cardboard
264
Metric Tonnes of Metals
107
Metric Tonne of Paper
115
Metric Tonnes of Plastics
48,060
Litres of Oils
29 | KAUST SDG HIGHLIGHT REPORT