Environmental Standards

Storage and Material Reclamation Facilities

Design and Operation

KSA

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Environmental Standard

Storage and Material Reclamation Facilities Design and Operation

Article I Preliminary

1)

material reclamation facility (MRF) refers to a

site for the reclamation and recovery of waste
materials for beneficial use, whether for
recycling/reuse, composting or energy recovery.

Definitions
authorisation
process
refers
to
the
determination of all applications for the
development of a new waste facility by the
Competent Agency up to the point where
permission is granted to proceed with facility
development.
biodegradable means capable of being degraded
by plants and animals.
bunds are systems which contain waste in an
embankment or secondary container to prevent the
waste from travelling or escaping.
Competent Agency where referenced, refers to
the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment or
its designated representative.
construction quality assurance plan (CQA)
refers to the documentation to be provided outlining
the successful construction of the facility and
providing evidence that all design performance
specifications have been met.
disposal means the discharge, deposit, injection,
dumping, spilling, leaking, or placing of any waste
into or on any land or water so that such waste or
any constituent thereof may enter the environment
or be emitted into the air or discharged into any
waters, including ground waters.
emission means the direct or indirect release of
substances, vibrations, heat or noise from
individual or diffuse sources in the plant into the air,
water or soil.
feedstock refers to the raw material required for
the process.
generator is a commercial or industrial
organisation which produces or stores trackable
waste and arranges for this waste to be sent for
storage, recycling, treatment or disposal at another
location via an authorised transporter.
GER refers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias
General Environmental Regulations.
hazardous waste is a waste with properties that
make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful
effect on human health and the environment.
KSA refers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

mechanical biological treatment (MBT) refers to

the mechanical sorting/separation technologies
used in conjunction with biological treatment
processes, such as composting or anaerobic
digestion.
parameter shall refer to a chemical, physical or
biological measurement factors as determined at
the specific article within this document and
associated
published
Waste
Management
standards.
PME refers to the Presidency of Meteorology and
Environment who are designated as the
responsible authority for the protection of the
environment and the development of environmental
protection standards in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.
quarantine area refers to a location within the
site which is set aside for the temporary storage of
potentially unacceptable waste materials pending
final confirmation.
recycling is the separation and collection of
wastes materials for the subsequent transformation
or remanufacture into usable or marketable
products or materials.
risk assessment is the process of identifying and
quantifying a risk and assessing the significance of
that risk in relation to other risks.
site identification number means the number
assigned by the Competent Agency to each TSD
facility operator of hazardous waste.
site manager refers to the individual with overall
responsibility for the operation and management of
a waste management facility.
storage means all operations intended to keep or
contain wastes and other hazardous, toxic or
radioactive substances for the purpose of
treatment, transportation or disposal, but excluding
those sites where the waste is originally produced
such as households, or commercial premises, or
where the waste is produced during construction
activities pending reuse or removal.
tanks are stationary devices, as opposed to
portable containers, used to store or treat waste.
Tanks can be open topped or completely enclosed,
and may be constructed of materials including
steel, plastic, fibreglass, and concrete.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

tipping area is the designated area within which

the unloading of vehicles occurs prior to
reclamation of waste materials.
transporter means a person engaged in the offsite transportation of waste by air, rail, highway or
water and is anyone who transports the trackable
waste from its place of production or storage to
another location.

3)
.

3)

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Timescales for implementation

a) The effective date of this standard

01/05/1433H corresponds to 24/03/2012G.

4)

is

Purpose
a) The Standard for Storage and Material
Reclamation Facilities Design and Operation has
effect for purposes connected with the regulation of
waste and hazardous waste, and in particular for
the purposes of the:

treatment is any means or technique of altering

the physical, chemical or biological properties of
wastes used to neutralize such wastes; utilize
substances or energy contained therein or released
by them; and transform the hazardous wastes into
wastes that are non-hazardous, less hazardous or
safer when transported, stored, disposed of,
prepared for storage, or reduced in volume.

i)

design of new Storage and Material

Reclamation Facilities which accept
waste of all types from across the KSA
whether a material or substance is inert,
non-hazardous or a hazardous waste,
as the case may be;

ii)

operation of Storage and Material

Reclamation Facilities to ensure that the
site is managed in a manner which will
have least possible impact upon the
neighbouring environment or human
health;

TSD Facility refers to a treatment, storage and/or

a disposal facility.
WAC refers to Waste Acceptance Criteria.
waste facility is a site for recycling, storing,
treating or disposing of waste.
waste handler is a generator, transporter and
receiver of waste who has waste responsibilities.
waste receiver is any person operating a facility
to whom waste is transported for recycling, storage,
treatment or disposal.

and accordingly the Storage and Material

Reclamation Facilities Design and Operation
Standard shall be recognised and used for those
purposes.

waste receiving area is a pre-determined area of

the site which has been set aside for the delivery of
waste by the general public and which is located
outside the normal field of on-site operations for
health and safety purposes.

b) The Standard guides those developing and

operating Storage and Material Reclamation
Facilities to:

waste tracking is the recording of information

from the waste generator about the quantity and
type of waste produced; recording information
about who transported the waste and when;
recording information from the waste receiver
about the quantity and type of waste received; and
matching information about the waste from both the
generator and the receiver.
working plan is the operational plan developed
prior to the acceptance of waste which sets out the
operational methods to be used on site and
demonstrates how environmental and human
health impacts will be managed and controlled.
2)

understand
the
best
practice
requirements with respect to Storage
and Material Reclamation Facility (MRF)
design and operation;

ii)

develop new storage and MRF sites

with due regard to international best
practice; and

iii)

understand
the
necessary
site
development requirements for storage
and MRF sites dealing with different
waste types.

c) The Standard is intended for use as a default

position for Storage and MRF design and operation.
The Standard applies to all new Storage and MRFs
pre-development. However, existing storage and
MRF operators must, as far as practicable,
implement the relevant best practice measures
contained within this Standard.

Citation
a) This document may be cited as the National
Storage and material reclamation facilities Design
and Operation Standard for KSA. This standard
revises the current General Standards for the
Environment (specifically document number 140901) issued by the Presidency of Meteorology and
Environment (PME).

i)

5)

Scope
a) This Standard sets out the design parameters
and operational requirements for Storage and
MRFs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

d) The Competent Agency or appointed individual

for the purpose of storage and material reclamation
facilities regulation may:

b) This Standard does not apply to the:

i)

management of Radioactive waste;

ii)

management of liquid wastes; or

iii)

management of sludges, including

sewage sludges and sludges from
dredging operations.

i) Enter any premises for the purpose of

carrying out any investigation.
ii) carry out such inspections, measurements
and tests on premises entered, articles or
records found on any such premises, and
take away such samples or articles, as may
be considered appropriate for the purpose of
enabling such investigation; or

c) This Standard does not provide detailed

information or guidance on the operation of different
facilities, but instead concentrates on setting out the
Standards for the design and operation of generic
Material Reclamation Facilities (MRFs), Storage
(TSD)
Facilities
and
Mechanical/Biological
Treatment (MBT) Plants.
6)

iii) at any reasonable time require any

relevant party to supply him with copies of, or
of extracts from, any records kept for the
purpose of demonstrating compliance with
storage and material reclamation facilities
standards.

Exemptions
a) Specific exemptions may be specified within this
standard at any point where relevant to the Article
that they are common to.

7)

Powers of Authority
a) Within the scope of these standards the
Competent Agency may:

i)

prescribe specific storage and material

reclamation facility requirements at any
time;

ii)

authorise such relaxations or departures

from,
the
storage
and
material
reclamation facility standards and make
any such authorisation subject to the
prescribed conditions, and to modify or
revoke any such authorisation or
condition; and

iii)

PME Reference

e) This standard enables the issue of regulations

and technical memoranda which are enforceable by
the Competent Agency who hold delegated
authority under the General Environmental
Regulations.
8)

a) Failure to comply with the requirements of these

standards may lead to prosecution by the
Competent Agency and those convicted of such
failure may be subject to fines or periods of
imprisonment as laid out in the General
Environmental Regulations.
b) It is anticipated that the requirements of this
standard will be enforced nationally with inspections
taking place to verify their implementation at a
regional and local level.
9)

Penalty fines
a) Maximum fines that may be imposed for
exceeding the applicable standard, breach of permit
and failure to comply with an abatement notice are
set out in the General Environmental Regulations.

authorise a local Concerned Agency to

exercise any power conferred by these
regulations by paragraphs i) - iii) above.

b) The Competent Agency may, for the purposes of

this Standard, appoint persons to act on their
behalf as technical assessors and monitors in
relation to the powers and duties conferred on him
by this standard and/or its subsequent
amendments.

Enforcement procedures

10)

Appeals
a) A right of appeal exists for any organisation or
individual who is required to take action as a
consequence of the implementation of the revised
standard.

c) In addition to the responsibilities conferred by

other sections contained within this standard, it
shall be the duty of a relevant party;

b) The right of appeal against conviction or

sentence is available through the appropriate
judicial system as set out in the General
Environmental Regulations.

i) to give the Competent Agency all such

assistance; and

c) All appeals should be fully supported with a

documented case containing as a minimum, the
information required under the appeals process of
the General Environmental Regulations.

ii) to provide the Competent Agency with all

such information, as that may reasonably be
required for the purpose of carrying out an
investigation
11)

Periodic Review

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

Reclamation
Facilities
including
specific
requirements for site location, tipping floor
requirements, liquid management, odour control,
Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) of the
design parameters, litter and pest/vermin control,
and closure.

a) As a minimum, the Competent Agency shall

undertake a periodic review of this standard every
5 years.
b) Where new information suggests that
adjustments are required to this standard, all
changes will be subject to the appropriate
consultation and will be notified to facilities by the
Competent Agency. Appropriate implementation
time will be allowed.

b) These provisions are generic for all Storage and

Material Reclamation Facilities detailed in Article II
of this Standard, unless otherwise stated.
c) Where risk assessments and investigations
identify that a specific provision or requirement is
required then this justification will be taken into
account during the Authorisation Process. The
minimum information required for authorisation
purposes is outlined in Appendix A in the PreDesign Report Requirements for Authorisation.

Article II Storage and Material Reclamation Facility

Classification
a) The classification of storage facilities and MRFs
are based upon the type of wastes which they are
permitted to accept through their gates. There are
more stringent requirements placed upon wastes
which have the potential to cause harm to human
health or the environment.

1)

Storage
Types

and

Material

Reclamation

b) An Environmental Assessment is necessary for

the siting and location of all new storage and MRFs
dealing with Class 1 waste types (or those which
can accept both Class 1 and Class 2 wastes). This
will be necessary to gain a thorough understanding
of the environment where the facility is to be sited in
order to design the site to minimise impacts on the
environment.

Facility
c) As a minimum requirement, where required, the
Environmental Assessment must include the items
outlined in Appendix B.

a) There are three types of classification of storage

and MRFs according to their potential impact on
human health or the wider environment. These are:
i)

Class 1 Storage and MRFs sites

permitted to accept only hazardous
wastes which satisfy site specific
acceptance criteria;

ii)

Class 2 Storage and MRFs - sites

permitted to accept only non-hazardous
materials from municipal, commercial
and industrial origins; and

iii)

Environmental Assessment
a) A full Environmental Assessment will not
normally be required for new Class 2 and Class 3
storage and MRFs prior to their development,
unless there are likely to be locally sensitive
receptors to the development.

b) For the purposes of this Standard, storage

facilities are classified as sites for the temporary
storage of waste at dedicated waste storage sites,
where waste is delivered to the site by waste
transporters. The waste is then stored after receipt
prior to onward transfer for treatment or disposal.

2)

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d) An Environmental Assessment will not be

required at existing operational sites, except where
there are proposals for a major increase in
capacity, or where there is a desire to upgrade an
existing facility to accept hazardous waste in the
future.
2)

Site Location
a) When locating a storage facility or MRF
consideration must be given to the following:

Class 3 Storage and MRFs - sites

permitted to accept only inert materials.

i)

b) Existing sites, and those sites proposed for

handling both hazardous and non-hazardous
wastes will fall within the Class 1 classification with
due regard to best environmental practice.

the facility must be located in close

proximity to population centres and the
collection sources;

ii)

the facility or site for a proposed facility

must be located adjacent to major
highways
or
other
transportation
arterials, and provide for easy
access/egress to the facility;

iii)

distance from the site boundary to

sensitive receptors such as residential
properties, recreation areas, coastal
water resources and agricultural areas;

Article III General Provisions

a) The following outlines the requirements with
respect to the design of Storage and Material

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

iv) presence of groundwater, surface water,

coastal water or nature conservation
zones;
v)

written report has been prepared in accordance

with Appendix A.
4)

geological
and
hydrogeological
conditions underlying the site; and

Site Layout
a) Storage and MRFs must be designed to:

vi) other undetermined local factors which

could be impacted by a proposed facility
and which will be identified at the local
level during the site selection process.
b) The active waste handling area of a storage
facility or MRF must not be located within thirty
(30) metres of any neighbouring property line.

a) All storage and MRF sites must be designed with

the desire for the least possible local impact and
where possible they must blend in with the local
surroundings.

ii)

size and shape of the property area;

iii)

subsurface
geological
hydrogeological conditions;

iv) surrounding land use;

v)

local ecological aspects;

ii)

minimise health and safety risks for

operators and the public;

iii)

encourage waste recovery; and

Article IV Site Infrastructure Requirements

1)

and

environmental

d) All wastes delivered to the site must be

subjected to review against site specific Waste
Acceptance Criteria to confirm their suitability for
receipt at the site. A Quarantine Area must be
provided for the temporary storage of suspect
wastes brought onto the site pending confirmation
of their suitability.

Site Specific Design Considerations

topography;

potential

c) Where there is general access to the public for

the drop off of wastes a suitable set aside Waste
Receiving Area with recycling and drop-off points
must be provided to reduce the need for the public
to unload their vehicles close to the main working
areas within the site to minimise safety risks.

e) The active waste handling area of a storage

facility or MRF must not be located within thirty
(30) metres of a drinking water well.

i)

minimise
impacts;

b) To assist in meeting these requirements a

detailed site layout plan must be provided to the
Competent Agency as part of the Working Plan for
the site prior to site development to provide
evidence that key concerns have been considered
and addressed prior to the development works.

d) The active waste handling area of a MRF must

not be located within one hundred (100) metres
of any residence, school, hospital or recreational
park area.

b) Site factors which affect facility design include

(but are not limited to):

i)

iv) use onsite resources efficiently.

c) The active waste handling area of a storage

facility or MRF must not be located within one
hundred (100) metres of any surface water
excluding drainage ditches and sedimentation
ponds.

3)

PME Reference

Roads and Internal Pavements

a) Local infrastructure must be able to sustain the
operation of a storage facility and MRF as these
sites require the transportation of waste. The
capacity of the road network to cope safely with any
increased traffic load and with a minimum of
disturbance to the local community must be
examined as part of pre-development requirements.
b) Access to the site will be from permanent roads
from the main highway.

vi) seismic considerations; and

vii) access and ease of transport to the site.
c) A detailed pre-construction plan must be
provided to the Competent Agency. Details of the
requirements for this plan are provided in Appendix
A.
e) A new facility must not be established by any
person, nor an increase in the incoming volume of
waste to an existing facility be exercised, unless a

c) The on-site roadway system must minimise the

number of traffic intersections and merges. To the
extent possible keep personal vehicle traffic,
material delivery traffic, and tractor-trailer traffic
separate.
d) Permanent roads must be designed with due
regard to the estimated volume of traffic. Where
possible, two lane traffic, (minimum total road width

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d) Any solids or oils collected in the interceptor

must be removed at appropriate intervals to
maintain the capacity of the solids interceptor.

of 7.5 metres), must be provided to allow efficient

entrance and exit from the site.
e) Permanent roads and yard areas must be
constructed of ground supported reinforced
concrete to a specification and depth capable of
withstanding the rigors of large goods vehicle traffic
over a prolonged period, being easily cleaned to
reduce mud and debris and coping with surface
water arisings.

e) The drainage systems must be inspected at

annual intervals throughout the operational life of
the facility to ensure their integrity.
f) The solids interceptor must be inspected at
monthly intervals and will be subject to periodic
maintenance to remove any accumulated silt and
maintain capacity.

f) Impermeable pavements must be provided in

relation to the waste reception and storage areas to
provide containment of any drainage or liquids
generated within those areas.
g) Specifications for the design and construction of
these areas must ensure that the surface provides
an impermeable, durable and easily maintained
surface capable of preventing the transmission of
any fluids through the pavement, or any joints
within the pavement and ensuring the collection of
any fluids into the sealed drainage system (where
required).

g) The main waste treatment building must be

designed to prevent the ingress of rainwater and
surface water. All roof drains will discharge into the
surface water drainage system.
3)

Utilities and Facilities

a) Electricity, water, sanitation and communications
facilities must be provided at all storage facilities
and MRFs to ensure the health and safety of onsite personnel, and to enable control of operations
on site (such as dust control, vehicle washing and
fire fighting).

h) The surfaces must be inspected at monthly

intervals throughout the operational life of the
facility and a record kept of the results of each
inspection.

b) As a minimum temporary structures must be

located on site providing accommodation to on site
personnel. Such structures must be designed to
provide:

i) In the event that action becomes necessary to

maintain the cleanliness of these areas, the surface
must be cleaned by any manual or mechanical
means available to the site management. Cleaning
may include, but not be limited to; hosing down,
manually sweeping or shovelling, or mechanical
sweepers.
j) All necessary repairs will be made to any defects
in the surface to ensure that it remains even, does
not become rutted or subject to differential
settlement and remains free draining and free from
standing water.

i)

office
space
for
management duties
storage;

general
site
and records

ii)

sanitation facilities for site staff and

visitors;

iii)

storage space for site equipment and for

maintenance purposes; and

iv) first Aid area, fully stocked for minor

accidents.

k) The external roads and paved yard areas will be

constructed to provide an even surface that falls to
ensure that drainage is directed towards the
surface water drainage systems.

2)

PME Reference

c) All structures must be located in a suitable area

of the site to allow control of day to day activities
whilst also taking account of health and safety
aspects.

Surface Water Drainage

4)
a) Surface water caused by run off of entrained
water from the waste mass or by storm water
events must be adequately controlled through the
construction of interlinked drainage channels
across the site between the operating areas and
the surrounding areas of the site.

Fencing and Security

a) A fence must be constructed around the
perimeter of the facility to:

b) The design of the drainage system must be

taken into account pre-development.
c) Surface water drainage must be discharged via
an interceptor into a runoff water attenuation
lagoon.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

i)

reduce onsite trespass, especially from

vulnerable members of the population,
and animals;

ii)

provide a screen for the site;

iii)

delineate the property lines; and

iv) provide a control for litter blow.

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b) Fences must be a minimum of 2 metres tall

around the entire perimeter of the site, with lockable
gates provided at the site entrance. Appropriate
signage to discourage trespassers must be erected
at the site entrance.
c) Maintenance and inspection of the site fencing
and gates along the site boundary must be
undertaken on a routine basis and temporary
repairs will be implemented either upon
identification during the inspection or by the end of
the day that the defect is found. A note of the
inspection and repairs will be kept on site and a
record kept of the results of each inspection.

vii) the words

TIPPING.

1)

Unacceptable Load Quarantine Area

c) The number of doors provided for vehicular

entrance into the facility must provide scope to
accommodate the expected number of trucks at
normal peak times. The same is true for loading
areas where reclaimed materials will be loaded
onto trailers for transport to markets.

c) A paved surface area of 10 metres by 10 metres

minimum must be provided, with its own linked
drainage collection system. All drainage from this
part of the site must be collected and held in
segregation until laboratory testing proves that it is
suitable for discharge into the onsite surface
drainage system. Where unsuitable, this water
must be transported for off-site treatment at a
suitable water treatment facility.

d) The building must have as few interior columns

as possible to allow the maximum flexibility for
placing equipment and accommodating future
needs to rearrange the layout.
e) The floor must be strong enough in all places to
accommodate both vehicles and heavy, stationary
processing equipment.
f) The floor must also be designed to allow for the
anchoring of equipment such as separation plant
and conveyors to assist in assurance of health and
safety for on site personnel.

Site Identification Board

a) An identification board of durable material and
approximate size 1 metre by 1 metre must be
erected and maintained in a prominent position at
the site entrance. The board must display the
following information:
site name and address;

ii)

operator name;

iii)

waste management licence number;

iv) site identification

relevant;
v)

number,

where

emergency contact name and telephone

number;

vi) days and hours site is open to receive

waste; and

Building Requirements

b) The outside walls of the building must be

designed to allow safe and easy access for
incoming and outgoing vehicles. It is important to
design doors wide and high enough to
accommodate vehicles unloading inside the
building, and to minimise potential for open trucks
backing out to cause structural damage.

b) This area must be clearly marked with reference

to its required purpose to ensure that there is no
inadvertent mixing of waste materials.

i)

UNAUTHORISED

a) Local building codes must be carefully followed

when designing a storage facility or MRF. Basics
such as the number of bathrooms, minimal working
space per employee, and other requirements may
be specified. Working condition rules such as
minimum and maximum temperatures, air changes,
and required ventilation may also influence design.

a) An area of the site must be made available to

allow for the temporary segregation of suspect,
burning or unacceptable waste loads which enter
the site. This area should be located away from the
main areas frequented by personnel. Water must
be available in case of burning waste loads.

6)

NO

Article V Storage and Material Reclamation Facility

Design Standards

d) Permanent repairs to the fencing and gates must

be completed within seven working days and a note
will be made in the site diary to this effect.

5)

PME Reference

g) The ceiling must be high enough to

accommodate equipment specifications. Conveying
lines, air classifiers, shredders, and other
processing equipment can be as tall as 15 metres.
h) Exhaust removal systems shall be installed in
enclosed areas and operated to provide adequate
ventilation within the facility.

2)

Tipping Area and Storage Areas

a) The waste tipping or storage areas must be
designed to accommodate at least two days
expected volume of material, although more space
may be required for larger Material Reclamation
Facilities in case of unexpected downtime.

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PME Reference

e) Repairs must be organised to any defects found

within one week, in order to maintain the integrity of
the surface and prevent transmission of fluids, other
than via the engineered systems.

b) Where both mixed and source separated

materials are accepted within the facility, separate
tipping areas must be provided to assist in more
efficient processing and greater recovery of
materials. Signs should clearly indicate to each
driver the proper location for material delivery.
4)

Construction Quality Assurance (CQA)

c) The tipping area floor must be designed to:

i)

handle heavy weights;

ii)

withstand the wear caused by pushing

and moving recyclables; and

iii)

provide efficient drainage for liquids

brought in by trucks

iv) be free from asphalt, especially where

there is a need to control fire.
d) The area needed for the tipping or unloading
floor must be estimated based upon the character
of the materials to be received at the site due to
differences in density of such materials. Appendix
C provides a table of basic conversion factors for
different recoverable waste types. By adding up
the expected daily volumes of the commodities to
be processed, the daily throughput for the facility
can be estimated.

a) The technical specifications for all aspects of

engineered containment and drainage must be
derived from engineering and environmental risk
assessments and will ensure all pollution
prevention and control measures will be designed
to meet with best practice.
b) All aspects of the construction of engineered
containment and drainage will be submitted to the
Competent Agency for approval prior to
commencing construction works.
c) All aspects of the construction of engineered
containment and drainage shall be subject to
Construction Quality Assurance to ensure
construction is compliant with the required technical
specification as laid out in the Construction Quality
Assurance Plan.
d) The CQA plan must be able to verify:

e) Adequate space within the building must be

available to design a process layout/materials flow
that is logical, efficient, and minimizes backtracking
or multiple handling of materials.
f) Adequate space should be designed in to cover
for seasonal variations in the quantities of incoming
materials delivered to the facility for receiving,
storage, sorting and processing during these high
volume periods.

3)

i)

that materials used comply with site

specific specifications; and

ii)

that the method of construction and

installation is appropriate and design
requirements have been met.

c) The CQA plan must contain the:

Fuel Storage Tanks for Vehicles

a) Where present, specifications for the design and
construction of fuel oil tanks and associated bunds
will ensure an external containment capacity of
110% of the total volume of the storage tanks. The
bund walls and bases must be impermeable to the
fuel types that may be contained within them.

i)

material and construction specifications

laid out for the proposed buildings and
pavement areas;

ii)

testing methods
compliance;

iii)

testing frequency;

confirm

appropriate documentation procedures

which outline what has been done.

d) The CQA must be provided for:

i)

all elements of basal containment

engineering, including internal floor
slabs, external pavement areas and
bunded areas; and

ii)

surface
water
and
management systems.

c) The impermeable pavements and associated

bunded areas must be cleaned at regular intervals
to remove any accumulated debris.
d) The impermeable pavements and associated
bunded areas must be inspected at monthly
intervals throughout the operational life of the
facility and a record kept of the results of each
inspection.

to

iv) corrective action to be taken where

necessary; and
v)

b) Any water accumulating in the bunded area must

be removed at intervals and disposed of in a
manner appropriate to the quality of the water
removed.

used

groundwater

e) The production of the CQA plan, and all testing

and reporting must be completed under the control

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

of a suitably qualified Chartered Engineer. On

completion, a validation report must be produced
and submitted to the Competent Agency which
must include:
i)

demonstration of CQA compliance

throughout the construction period;

ii)

justifications for any changes

deviations from the agreed plan;

iii)

the results of all testing - this must

include the records of any failed tests
with a written explanation, and details of
the remedial action taken, referenced to
the appropriate secondary testing;

or

PME Reference

Transfer and
Storage
Facility

Material
Reclamation
Facility

MBT
Facility

Capacity 000
tonne/yr

Up to 100

Up to 150

Up to
250

Buildings
m2/tonne/ year

0.05 to 0.1

0.05 to 0.1

0.05 to
0.1

<20m

<20m

<20m

Building
Height

Article VI - Operations
iv) plans showing the location of all tests;
v)

a) The actual plant operation of storage facilities

and MRFs will differ between technology providers
and the process employed. Provisions in this
Standard relating to specific processes must be met
in addition to generic operational considerations
which are applicable to all types of storage and
MRFs.

"as-built" plans and sections of the

works;

vi) copies of the site engineers daily

records;
vii) records of any problems or noncompliances and the solution applied;
and

1)

a) A Site Specific Working Plan, required in

accordance with the site specific waste
management licence application must be
developed and forwarded to the Competent Agency
for review and agreement prior to operations
commencing on the site for all sites which intend to
handle waste.

viii) any other site specific information

considered relevant to proving the
integrity of the facility construction.
5)

Plant Size Considerations

a) Storage and MRFs can be built for a wide range
of capacities. The chosen scale will reflect the
tonnage necessary to meet local waste strategy
targets and make the facility profitable within the
conditions of the contract.
b) Most Material Reclamation Facilities in this
context will be associated with MBT plant and the
capacities of which may range anywhere from
15,000 tonnes per annum to 500,000 tonnes per
annum.
c) The scale of the process must take into account
the total material throughput of the process.
d) The parameters detailed in Table 1 must be
taken into consideration during the design stage of
a storage facility and MRF and in deciding site
location and infrastructure requirements.

Table 1: Storage and Material Reclamation

Facility Design Parameters

Working Plan

b) The Working Plan will constitute the

documentary procedures which will be used to
control all aspects of work on site. Issues to be
considered and included within the Working Plan
are outlined below in the following sections.

2)

Waste Handling
a) Waste delivered to the facility by waste
transporters must be managed in accordance with
the requirements in the Waste Classification
Standard, the Waste Handling and Storage
Standard and the Waste Regulatory Control and
Compliance Standard.
b) All labelling must be resilient enough to stay
attached and legible throughout the whole time of
storage at the installation.
c) A daily inspection of the condition of containers
and pallets must be undertaken and written records
kept of these inspections. If a container is found to
be damaged, leaking or in a state of deterioration, it
must immediately be over-drummed or the contents
transferred to another container or processed.
d) Containers must be stored in such a manner that
leaks and spillages could not escape over
bunds/edge of the sealed drainage area.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

place), or (where there is no weighbridge) a volume

or unit estimation will be made, and a record kept
detailing the following:

e) The operator of the facility must take all

necessary precautions concerning the delivery and
reception of waste in order to prevent or to limit as
far as practicable negative effects on the
environment, in particular the pollution of air, soil,
surface water and groundwater as well as odours
and noise, and direct risks to human health.

3)

6)

date of removal of each container/skip;

ii)

type of waste/product removed;

iii)

weight of waste/product removed; and

Operations and Maintenance

a) As a minimum, effective operational and
maintenance systems must be employed on all
aspects of the site where failure could impact on
the environment. There must be:

Unacceptable Loads
a) All operational sites must make provision of an
area suitable for the storage of suspect wastes
pending confirmation that they are suitable for
acceptance at the facility.
b) Full details of all materials held within the
quarantine area must be kept. As a minimum the
following records must be held for each and every
load:

(i)

Date of arrival;

(ii)

Details of the source of the waste and

the company bringing the waste to the
site;

(iii)

A copy of the Waste Tracking Form (see

Regulatory Control and Compliance
Standard provisions);

(iv)

Where relevant, the accompanying

Hazardous Waste Code.

c) All labelling must be resilient enough to stay

attached and legible throughout the whole time of
storage at the installation.
d) A daily inspection of the condition of containers
and pallets must be undertaken and written records
kept of these inspections. If a container is found to
be damaged, leaking or in a state of deterioration, it
must immediately be over-drummed or the contents
transferred to another container or processed.

5)

i)

iv) destination site removed to.

Waste Acceptance
a) Waste will only be accepted at a facility which is
duly authorised to accept that waste in accordance
with the requirements laid out in the .

4)

PME Reference

i)

documented procedures to control

operations that may have an adverse
impact on the environment;

ii)

a defined procedure for identifying,

reviewing and prioritising items of plant
for which a preventative maintenance
regime is appropriate;

iii)

documented procedures for monitoring

emissions or impacts; and

iv) a preventative maintenance programme

covering all plant, whose failure could
lead to impact on the environment.
b) The maintenance system must include auditing
of performance against requirements arising from
the above and reporting the result of audits to
senior management.

7)

Competence and Training

a) The Technical Competence and training of
operatives involved in managing storage facilities
and MRFs must be undertaken in accordance with
the Waste Training and Assessment of Technical
Competence of Operators Standard.
b) Additional training must be provided to all staff
working within the confines of the treatment facility
with respect to:

e) All spillages of hazardous wastes must be

logged. Where spillages are greater than 200 litres
the Competent Agency must be informed.

i)

health and Safety and the individual

responsibilities that all have for the
safety of others; and

f) Containers must be stored in such a manner that

leaks and spillages could not escape over
bunds/edge of the sealed drainage area.

ii)

understanding of the environmental

impacts that their work could have and
provision of instructions to assist in
reducing these impacts.

Waste Despatch
Wastes and process products removed from site
will be weighed at the weighbridge (where one is in

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8)

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

Accident Plans
a) An Accident Plan must be put in place by the
Operators (reviewed at least once every three
years, or in the event of an accident) which
identifies:
i)

the likelihood and consequence of

accidents; and

ii)

actions to prevent accidents

mitigate any consequences.

and

i)

identify the potential on-site accident

hazards;

ii)

provide an assessment of the risks;

iii)

identify necessary risk management

measures;

traffic noise on the local road networks;

iii)

mechanical processing such as waste

preparation;
fans

and

ventilation

air cooled condenser units.

c) Where noise issues are likely to be relevant, the

Operator must provide information on the following:

make provision for the hazards

displayed by any hazardous wastes
accepted at the facility.

i)

the main sources of noise and vibration

that will fall within the installation and
also on infrequent sources of noise and
vibration;

ii)

operating timescales of the treatment

facility;

iii)

the nearest noise-sensitive sites;

iv) conditions/limits imposed under other

regimes;

Compliance Reporting

v)

the local noise environment;

vi) any environmental noise measurement

surveys, modelling or any other noise
measurements; and
vii) any specific local issues and proposals
for improvements.

b) There must be written procedures for handling,

investigating,
communicating
and
reporting
environmental complaints and implementation of
appropriate actions.

d) Where there are sensitive receptors present, a

Noise Management Plan must be developed which
provides details on how noise will be managed
within the site and the measures to be adopted to
reduce those noise impacts.

c) There must be written procedures for

investigating incidents, (and near misses) including
identifying suitable corrective action and follow up.
12)

Control of Air-borne Nuisance

Site Security
a) The facility must be secured to prevent free
access to the site.

a) Measures must be put in place to minimise the

nuisance arising from the facility in relation to:

b) The gates of the facility must be locked outside

operating hours.
c) Access to each facility must be controlled by
systems to detect and discourage illegal dumping at
the facility.
11)

ii)

b) Measures must be taken to minimise the

nuisance arising from the treatment facility in
relation to noise pollution.

a) Written procedures must be in place for handling,

investigating, communicating and reporting actual
or potential non-compliance with operating
procedures or emission limits.

10)

vehicle movements/manoeuvring;

v)

iv) include contingency actions to be

undertaken in the event of an accident
to mitigate consequences; and
v)

i)

iv) air extraction

systems; and

b) The Accident Plan will:

9)

PME Reference

Noise

(i)

emissions of dust;

(ii)

wind-blown materials; and

(iii)

the formation of aerosols.

b) Site operations must have due regard to the

need to control dirt originating from the site being
dispersed onto public roads and the surrounding
land.

a) The main contributors to noise associated with

storage facilities and MRFs are likely to be:

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

f) A regular odour impact assessment must be

undertaken by the Operator. The impact
assessment must cover a range of reasonably
foreseeable odour generation and receptor
exposure scenarios and the effect of different
mitigation options.

c) All of the potential impacts of a treatment facility

must be identified during conceptual model
development and refined during the Authorisation
Process.
Detailed measures to mitigate the
impacts must be included in the design of the
facility and set out in the Working Plan.
d) As a minimum, procedures must be in place to
deal with particulate matter arising from:
i)

the placement of wastes;

ii)

traffic on site roads;

iii)

site
preparation
activities;

and

14)

restoration

b) Insect infestations commonly arise from waste

which has been awaiting collection for some time.
Procedures must be put in place to prevent or limit
the acceptance of such wastes. The Operator must
reduce the risk of infestation by prompt treatment or
onward removal of such wastes.

carriage of dust/mud onto the highway.

e) Dust suppression must be provided including the

availability of bowsers and water supplies.

13)

Odour

c) Where wastes are to be stored outside a building

pending treatment or off site removal, the Operator
must provide for adequate measures to deal with
any pest infestation.

a) As one of the most conspicuous potential

emissions of any putrescible waste receiving or
treatment facility, odour needs extremely careful
consideration.
b) Operational measures must be put in place to
minimise the nuisance arising from the treatment
plant in relation to emissions of dust and odour
which may be attributed to the following activities:
i)

delivery of feedstock, which may have

been stored for long periods, and/or
contained in air-tight bags trapping
odour build-up;

ii)

feedstock shredding;

iii)

exhaust air from enclosed systems;

15)

v)

untreated pools of leachate (nutrient-rich

high organic content liquids produced
from decomposing materials, and run-off
during rainfall); and

vi) fresh and partially composted materials

that are left untreated without aeration
for periods of time causing anaerobic
decomposition; anaerobic conditions
must therefore be kept to a minimum.
e) Dust and odour emissions must be minimised by
performing all operations under controlled
conditions indoors where practical. Good working
practices and effective management undertaken for
dust suppression from vehicle movements.

Litter
a) Any waste which contains plastics and paper is
more likely to lead to litter problems. Litter problems
can be minimised as long as good working
practices are adhered to, vehicles use covers and
reception and processing are undertaken indoors.

16)

iv) anaerobic conditions in decomposing

putrescible materials;

Control of Pests, Vermin and Birds

a) Storage and MRFs are unlikely to attract pests,
vermin and birds due to the majority of waste
throughput and operations being conducted in
enclosed buildings or containers. However, during
hot weather it is possible that flies could
accumulate, especially if they have been brought in
during delivery of the waste.

iv) surface emissions; and

v)

PME Reference

Control of Leaks and Spillages

a) Where spillages of dry wastes occur, these must
be cleared by either manual or mechanical means,
for example handpicking, sweeping or shovelling,
depending on the size and location of the spillage.
b) Minor spillages of liquid must be contained using
spillage kits or any suitable readily available
absorbent material. This material must be disposed
of in a manner appropriate to the type of material
absorbed.
c) A record must be maintained in the site diary of
any spillages so treated.
d) In the event of a major spillage the site drains
must be sealed off where possible and a specialist
contractor brought on site to clear the spillage.
e) The Competent Agency must be informed of any
major spillage event and a record made in the site
diary.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

f) Spillage kits and other emergency equipment

must be stored in the appropriate areas of the site.
The Competent Agency must be informed of the
location and content of this equipment prior to the
commencement of waste treatment operations at
the site.

17)

b) A summary of the types and quantities of wastes

deposited at the site and waste residues removed
from the site must be provided to the Competent
Agency at an agreed frequency and in an agreed
format.

2)

Fire Prevention and Control

PME Reference

Records of Significant Events

a) The following significant events must be
recorded, on site:

a) All fires on site must be treated as a potential

emergency and dealt with accordingly. Fires may
occur due to plant failure or combustible material
within stored wastes or process products being
ignited (potentially through vandalism).
b) Small fires may, if possible, be safely brought
under control using fire-fighting equipment present
on site.
c) In the event of a fire that cannot be easily or
safely brought under control then the site Fire
Emergency Procedure will be put into action. This
procedure will be developed with the local Fire
Authority and will be in place prior to any wastes
being treated at the site.

i)

the start and finish of any construction

and engineering works undertaken on
site;

ii)

start and finish of waste management

processes carried out on site;

iii)

maintenance;

iv) breakdowns;
v)

emergencies;

vi) problems with

action taken;

d) Fire fighting equipment of a suitable type shall be

kept at appropriate locations as advised by the
Company Health and Safety Department and/or the
local Fire Authority.

waste

received

and

vii) site inspections;

viii) attendance of technically competent
management on site;

e) The locations of fire fighting equipment and

materials will be detailed in the Fire Emergency
Plan.

ix) despatch of records to the Competent

Agency;

f) All fire fighting equipment must be kept in good

condition, unobstructed and maintained to a
standard as required by the local Fire Authority.

x)

severe weather conditions;

xi) complaints; and

g) Any fire arising on site must be reported to the
Competent Agency as soon as possible, having
due regard firstly to any steps necessary to tackle
the fire and its immediate consequences. A record
of the occurrence of a fire must also be maintained
in the site diary, along with any actions taken.

b) The Site Manager or nominated person must

maintain a record of the above information in the
site diary as required.

h) Following approval by the Fire Authority and/or

site manager the residues from the fire will be
disposed of accordingly at a suitable licensed waste
management facility.

c) The site diary must be kept in the site control

office at all times and made available for inspection
at all reasonable times by any officer of the
Competent Agency.

i) Any contaminated water arising from fire fighting

within the waste treatment building or bunded areas
must be collected and disposed of to an appropriate
facility.

xii) pest or vermin incidents.

3)

Format of Records
a) The terms Record, Log Book and Site Diary may
be kept as, but not limited to:

Part VII Record Keeping

1)

i)

hand generated log;

Waste Movement Records

ii)

computer generated hard copies;

a) A record of the types and quantities (in tonnes)

of wastes received at the site, and wastes/process
products removed from the site must be maintained
and kept in the site office.

iii)

floppy Disc;

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

iv) on an unalterable disk or similar format.

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KSA

4)

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Security of Records
a) To ensure the security of records they must be
housed in either locked containers or kept in offices
that shall be locked when not attended.

5)

Archiving of Records
a) Copies of all records relating to wastes
movements and product sales must be kept by the
Site Manager for at least 2 years, before archiving.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Appendix A
Pre-Design Report Requirements for Authorisation

The report must describe the design parameters of the

Storage and Material Reclamation Facility site and must
contain as a minimum details of the following:
(i)
(ii)

(iii)
(iv)

(v)

(vi)

(vii)

(viii)

(ix)

(x)

(xi)

Legal details for ownership of the site

An up to date plan and description of the site
and the area within 500 metres of the site
that covers:
a. all property and property boundaries
b. all buildings, roads and utility corridors
c. land contours, surface water drainage,
water bodies, rights-of-way and other
easements,
d. forested areas,
e. land uses and land use designations,
and
f. property conditions not otherwise
covered in subclauses (a) to (e)
Details of the total waste volume acceptable
at any one time
A full hydrogeological assessment of the
suitability of the site for the keeping of
municipal waste or other waste that
considers the geologic and hydrogeologic
conditions of the site, the design of the site
and the monitoring and contingency plans
A full geotechnical assessment of the
suitability of the site for the storage of
municipal waste or other waste
A detailed assessment of the potential
impacts on surface water features that may
be caused by the site or operations at the
site
Detailed
plans,
specifications
and
descriptions of the system for collecting,
directing and discharging surface water,
including details of any sediment control or
other features and including construction,
quality assurance and quality control
procedures for the system components and
system installation
Detailed
plans,
specifications
and
descriptions of monitoring facilities for
leachate, ground water, and surface water
An assessment of potential noise impacts
due to operations at the site and to local
trucking related to operations at the site,
including an evaluation of any proposed
noise control measures
An assessment of potential visual impacts on
nearby properties due to the site and site
operations
Detailed
plans,
specifications
and
descriptions of the buffer area and ancillary
facilities,
including
any
screening,
landscaping,
fencing,
weigh
scales,
buildings, structures, access roads, internal
roads, holding areas for rejected waste or
materials for recycling, and other holding
areas

(xii)

(xiii)

(xiv)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Detailed
plans,
specifications
and
descriptions of the contaminant attenuation
zone, if one is necessary
Details of any facilities intended to control or
change the contaminating life span of the
site
A summary of the main characteristics of the
site, including the maximum daily quantity of
waste that will be accepted, the estimated
annual average quantity of waste that will be
accepted, the working area of the site, the
total waste receiving volume, the estimated
waste receiving and reclamation capacity in
tonnes, any subcategories of waste that are
not expected to be received or that will not
be accepted for disposal, and the estimated
date of site closure.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Appendix B
Environmental Assessment Requirements
An environmental assessment of the site proposed for
waste storage or reclamation is required to gain a
thorough understanding of the existing environment at the
site in order to develop a sound facility design. This
assessment must examine the impact of the proposed
facility on the air, groundwater, surface water and noise
environments, and should be based on at least two to
three years of data.

c.
d.
e.

stormwater diversion banks and/or cutoff drains and storage dams

fire-fighting equipment and water supply
wheel washes.

If, following an environmental assessment, the site is

identified as unsuitable for a waste facility, the proposal
must not proceed any further. For the purposes of siting a
waste management facility, an environmental assessment
would contain:
(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Meteorological data, including monthly

rainfall, monthly evaporation, seasonal wind
strength and direction
Hydrogeological assessment in accordance
with EPA Publication Hydrogeological
Assessments (Groundwater Quality), which
includes:
a. local and regional geology
b. spatial distribution of groundwater (local
and regional if watertable is artificially
depressed)
c. depth to groundwater (current and after
any rebound if the watertable is
artificially depressed) and watertable
elevation (mAHD)
d. groundwater gradient and flow direction
e. description of groundwater interaction
with
f. local surface waters
g. aquifer physical properties:
i. permeability
ii. aquifer thickness
iii. saturated thickness
iv. porosity.
h. aquifer chemical properties:
i. mineralogy
ii. cation exchange and sorption
capacity.
i. groundwater quality (local and regional if
aquifer is likely to have been impacted
on by previous activities)
j. beneficial uses of groundwater to be
protected
k. groundwater use in the surrounding
area
l. predicted extent and degree of impacts
on groundwater quality during and after
the operation
m. verification that beneficial uses are not
adversely impacted at the site, or at the
boundary of an attenuation zone where
designated.
Water Management, including:
a. water balance for the site and estimated
volume of leachate to be generated
b. leachate collection, storage facilities,
treatment and disposal

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Appendix C
Sample Weight to Volume Conversion Factors for Recyclables

Material

Volume

Mass (in Kilograms)

Newsprint, loose
Newsprint, compacted
Glass, whole bottles
Glass, semi-crushed
Glass, fully crushed
PET Bottles, whole, loose
PET Bottles, baled
HDPE Bottles, whole, loose
HDPE Bottles, baled
Mixed Plastic Bottles, loose
Aluminium Cans, whole
Aluminium Cans, flattened
Ferrous Cans, whole
Ferrous Cans, flattened
Wood Chips
Grass Clippings
Used Motor Oil
Post-consumer Tyre, Car
Tyre, Truck
Food waste, solid and liquid fats

One cubic metre

One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One cubic metre
One Gallon
One (number)
One (number)
55 Gallon Drum

160 to 360
330 to 450
270 to 450
450 to 820
360 to 1220
14 to 18
27 to 36
11
30
14
23 to 34
115
68
390
230
180 to 680
3
5.5
27
180

Municipal Solid Waste,

uncompacted
Municipal Solid Waste, truck
compacted
Commercial and Industrial Waste,
uncompacted

One cubic metre

90

One cubic metre

340

One cubic metre

200

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