Environmental and Economic Benefits of Recovered Paper: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia

This study aims to examine the economic and environmental benefits of recovered paper and potential contribution of the recovered paper to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Vision 2030. The Vision 2030 is an inclusive development policy, recently launched, with the objectives to build the best future for the country. The Vision 2030 is based on three ambitious goals: making the country a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. It is estimated that by 2030, 5.05 million ton of waste paper would be recovered in the country. About 11.3 billion SAR (US $3.01 billion) would be added to the country’s GDP and would create about 16,536 new jobs if the recovered paper industry is built in the country. Moreover, a net environmental benefit of 9.6 million crude barrel oil savings and 4.5 million ton of CO2 savings from GHG emissions could be achieved by 2030 only from the paper waste recovery in the country. The potential benefits of paper waste recycling in KSA highlight the needs of effective measures to optimize the economic and environmental opportunities inherited in the waste paper industry. These measures should focus on capitalizing the local waste paper processing industry, restrict the export of raw waste paper materials, and enhance the waste paper collection process and quantity.