A Sustainability Breakthrough: Saudi Arabia Transforms Construction Waste into Roads
In a new milestone towards achieving sustainability, the Saudi Roads General Authority (RGA) on Friday announced the implementation of the first road in the world that uses recycled construction and demolition (C&D) waste in its asphalt mixture, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
This marks a significant stride towards environmental sustainability and the development of a more efficient infrastructure. Saudi Arabia boasts a robust road network and is committed to its expansion and development, recognizing its pivotal role in connecting communities and driving economic growth.
Innovative Breakthrough
In a press release, the RGA announced that it has successfully implemented the first road harnessing recycled construction and demolition (C&D) waste in its asphalt mixture.
The project comes in collaboration with Al-Ahsa Municipality and the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN). The innovative project involves the use of C&D waste in the asphalt paving layers of a road inside Al-Ahsa Governorate.
كأول دولة على مستوى العالم..
البدء باستخدام "نتاج هدم المباني" في الخلطات الأسفلتية على سطح الطريق، بما يسهم في الحفاظ على البيئة وتعزيز الاستدامة. pic.twitter.com/fMBGeANuJe— الهيئة العامة للطرق (@RGAsaudi) January 3, 2025
In the light of this, the RGA said that the project is based on an extensive research conducted at its research center. The study involved an evaluation of the asphalt and gravel layers that contain aggregates from crushed C&D debris sourced from the Al-Ahsa Municipality’s environmental landfill.
Towards Environmental Sustainability
According to RGA, this groundbreaking initiative aims to enhance environmental sustainability and develop a more efficient infrastructure to respond to environmental challenges.
Furthermore, the C&D waste management is part of the Kingdom’s ambitious transition plan to circular economy, with the goal of recycling 60% of C&D waste by 2035.
Successful Initiative
The productive collaboration between the RGA and MWAN paves the way for expanding the use of this type of sustainable road paving. Moreover, the initiative is another stride towards transforming environmental challenges into innovative opportunities.
This innovative approach contributes to minimizing the environmental impact of waste accumulation and reducing the dependence on raw materials. In turn, this plays a key role in cutting the costs of road construction and maintenance while strengthening environmental sustainability.
Supporting Road Sustainability
The RGA is committed to achieving the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) which focuses on enhancing the safety and sustainability of the road sector. To this end, the NTLS encourages innovation and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
In order to promote sustainability in the road sector, Saudi Arabia has embarked on several initiatives. These include promoting the sales of electric vehicles (EVs), electrifying public transport vehicles, and introducing incentives programs to encourage consumers to use sustainable alternative to private cars.
Most recently, Saudi Arabia launched its first hydrogen-powered bus in Al-Ahsa Governorate. It is part of several innovative projects to develop transportation services in the Kingdom. These projects include the first hydrogen-powered train in the MENA region, operated by SAR, and the first hydrogen-powered taxi in Jeddah.
Harnessing Technology
Saudi Arabia has prioritized the use of advanced technologies to enhance road safety and sustainability. In November 2024, the Kingdom hosted the first Road Safety and Sustainability Conference in Riyadh, in partnership with the International Road Federation.
Under the theme “Innovating for Tomorrow,” the conference brought together over 1,000 road experts and officials to discuss the importance of road safety and sustainability within the regional context.
The discussions focused on international best practices and the latest technological advancements in the road sector. It also discussed the revolutionary role of artificial intelligence (AI) and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in promoting sustainable mobility, enhancing traffic management, improving vehicle safety and reducing environmental impact.
Moreover, the RGA’s CEO, Badr Al-Dulami, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s utilization of advanced technologies to recycle road layers during the “Supply Chain Conference,” held in December 2024 in Riyadh. He said that this has led to 40% acceleration in maintenance and a significant improvement in cost efficiency, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Saudi Arabia’s Road Network
Owing to Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to expanding and developing its road network, the Kingdom boasts a robust road network, connecting all the Kingdom’s regions and major cities through seamless routes.
As a result, Saudi Arabia has a vast network of roads, extending over 73,000 kilometers, designed in line with international standards.
This has elevated the Kingdom’s position as a world leader in road connectivity. In the light of this, Saudi Arabia has secured a high ranking in the Road Quality Index (RQI) for 2023, with a score of 5.7. This has placed Saudi Arabia in the 4th rank among G20 countries.
