‏On February 05, 2018, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdel Aziz, Chairman of the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh, chaired the 13^th meeting of the High Committee for Environment Protection in Riyadh.

During the meeting, HRH welcomed the Committee members and urged them to continue their great efforts to carry out their duties set out in the “Execution Plan for Environment Protection in Riyadh City”.

According to HE Engr. Ibrahim Al-Sultan, member of the High Commission for Development of Arriyadh and President of ‎Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), the gathering was briefed on the report of air quality in the city of Riyadh, which covers a two-year period from 1436H to 1438H.

During this period, more than 21 million readings were recorded using 32 monitoring stations installed across the city, with an accuracy rate of 82%. The analysis of the readings revealed that:

• The percentage of gaseous pollutants ranges between “very good” and “excellent”.
• Dust-laden air coming from outside the city causes 80% of the city’s air pollution by solid particulates.

The committee also contacted the World Health Organization to rectify the inaccurate information, based on which it has classified the city of Riyadh within the world’s most polluted cities by suspended particulates (PM2.5).

Also, HE Engr. Ibrahim Al-Sultan referred that the Yamama Cement Company has completed 69% of the new cement plant, 75 kilometers outside Riyadh, to which it will relocate its current factory.

During the meeting, a number of committee members provided a summary of their metropolitan environmental efforts as follows:

• National Water Company: Improvement of the efficiency and capacity of the sewage plant in the Manfouha neighborhood.
• Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon): Rehabilitation of industrial wastewater lake east of the 2^nd Industrial City, and upgrading the capacity of the industrial wastewater treatment plant in the Riyadh 2^nd Industrial City.
• Alriyadh Municipality: Urgent measures to treat the situation in waste landfill in the Al Sulayy neighborhood.

Adoption of the Riyadh Region Revegetation Program’s outputs

The meeting also adopted the Riyadh Region Revegetation Program’s outputs and executive program, which will guide, direct and orchestrate all metropolitan vegetation-related works and projects.

Regulations for demolition, construction and drilling wastes

The meeting also adopted the updated regulations for the management of demolition, construction and drilling wastes. The new regulations set out the functions and responsibilities of the concerned metropolitan stakeholders, and detail the environmental regulations, terms and specifications for recycling, sorting and disposal of such wastes.

Riyadh Governor Environmental Excellence Program

The meeting also approved the “Riyadh Governor Environmental Excellence Program” as a component of the “Execution Plan for Environment Protection in Riyadh City.” The new program has three branches:

Excellence Awards for Best Environmental Practices: An award dedicated to achievements in specific fields, such as landscaping, water recycling, renewable energy use, and others.

Environmental Excellence Certificate: A certificate awarded to public and private plants and facilities, which make environmental achievements that meet specific criteria.

Excellence Award for Scientific Research: An award granted to the best scientific research aiming to develop solutions to the environmental challenges facing the Riyadh region.