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Moving from Linear to Circular Economy in Saudi Arabia: Life-Cycle Assessment on Plastic Waste Management

Author

Listed:
  • Abdulmajeed Almadhi

    (Engineering Management Department, College of Engineering, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abdelhakim Abdelhadi

    (Engineering Management Department, College of Engineering, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia)

  • Rakan Alyamani

    (Engineering Management Department, College of Engineering, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The discovery of plastic caused a true transformation in human lives and it is used in many essential applications. Despite its significance, humanity struggles to control plastic waste and stop its infiltration into the natural environment. This study aims to review the existing waste management system in Saudi Arabia and evaluate environmental impacts of different plastic waste management scenarios by conducting a life-cycle assessment (LCA). This study covered five scenarios: landfill, incineration with energy recovery, mechanical recycling with incineration of residuals, pyrolysis with incineration of residuals, and combined mechanical recycling and pyrolysis with incineration of residuals. For all scenarios in this study, the CML-IA Baseline method was used, utilizing OpenLCA software. Sources of data for this study were obtained from the Ecoinvent 3.9.1 database and from published peer-reviewed reports. The LCA study revealed that the combined mechanical recycling and pyrolysis with incineration of residuals scenario has the lowest environmental impact. Additionally, the combined scenario can accept a broader range of plastic waste, which improves the overall waste management system towards shifting to circular economy. Therefore, to meet the various recycling requirements, it is recommended to establish a portfolio of plastic waste management techniques in Saudi Arabia to produce high-quality recycled products. It is also recommended to utilize renewable energy for electricity generation in Saudi Arabia, since it was shown in this study that it has a significant positive environmental impact across all impact categories.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdulmajeed Almadhi & Abdelhakim Abdelhadi & Rakan Alyamani, 2023. "Moving from Linear to Circular Economy in Saudi Arabia: Life-Cycle Assessment on Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:13:p:10450-:d:1185609
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zaid M. Aldhafeeri & Hatem Alhazmi, 2022. "Sustainability Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the Framework of Circular Economy Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Pantelitsa Loizia & Irene Voukkali & Georgia Chatziparaskeva & Jose Navarro-Pedreño & Antonis A. Zorpas, 2021. "Measuring the Level of Environmental Performance on Coastal Environment before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study from Cyprus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-24, February.
    3. Hatem Alhazmi & Faris H. Almansour & Zaid Aldhafeeri, 2021. "Plastic Waste Management: A Review of Existing Life Cycle Assessment Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    5. Ichiro Tsuchimoto & Yuya Kajikawa, 2022. "Recycling of Plastic Waste: A Systematic Review Using Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-39, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Omar Marfoa Alshamri & Saad Mohammed Alnefaee, 2025. "Adopting Circular Economy Models for Healthcare Waste Management: Issues and Prospects in Saudi Arabia," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 16(2), pages 44-54, April.
    2. Mohammed Farhan Alqahtani & Mohamed Afy-Shararah, 2025. "Integrating Circular Economy Practices into Renewable Energy in the Manufacturing Sector: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-42, August.
    3. Saad Al Omar & Abdelhakim Abdelhadi, 2024. "Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Steel and GFRP Rebars for Procurement Sustainability in the Construction Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Hongguang Yang & Zhichao Hu & Feng Wu & Kai Guo & Fengwei Gu & Mingzhu Cao, 2023. "The Use and Recycling of Agricultural Plastic Mulch in China: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-24, October.
    5. Divine Senanu Ametefe & George Dzorgbenya Ametefe & Dah John & Abdulmalik Adozuka Aliu & Macaulay M. Owen & Solehuddin Shuib & Aisha Hamid, 2025. "Energy Generation from Plastic Composites: A Systematic Review of Sustainable Practices and Technologies," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 1307-1343, April.
    6. Khalid Alsaud & Fadi Assad & John Patsavellas & Konstantinos Salonitis, 2025. "A Comparative Analysis of Circular Economy Practices in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-25, April.

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