The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing an accelerated shift in the management of construction and demolition waste, within clear directions to promote environmental sustainability and reduce waste in the construction sector, by recycling these wastes and using them in infrastructure projects, especially road asphalting. This approach comes within the framework of national efforts to minimize the environmental impact and achieve maximum utilization of available resources.

Construction and demolition waste is one of the largest sources of solid waste resulting from construction, demolition and urban development activities, which prompted the competent authorities in the Kingdom to adopt innovative solutions to reuse it instead of disposing of it in landfills.

Pioneering recycling projects in the road sector
In recent years, many entities in Saudi Arabia have started implementing practical models for recycling construction and demolition waste, most notably using this waste after treatment in asphalt mixtures for road paving, which represents an important shift towards a circular economy in the infrastructure sector.
In January 2025, the <a href=“https://www.rga.gov.In cooperation with Al-Ahsa Municipality and the National Waste Management Center (MWAN), the General Roads Authority (GRA) announced the implementation of the first road in the world to use construction and demolition waste in the asphalt paving layers of one of the roads in Al-Ahsa Governorate.<The initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability and develop more efficient infrastructure in response to environmental challenges. The Roads Authority explained in its statement that the management of construction and demolition waste is part of the transformation plan towards a circular economy in the Kingdom, where the Kingdom seeks to recycle 60% of this waste by 2035.<The research study conducted at the Authority's Road Research Center included the evaluation of asphalt and gravel layers containing aggregates resulting from the crushing of building waste and old concrete, which was supplied from the environmental landfill of the Al Ahsa Municipality, and this fruitful cooperation with the National Waste Management Center (MWAN) comes to expand the use of this type of sustainable pavement.

Municipal initiatives to promote sustainability
At the city level, regional secretariats have launched multiple initiatives to recycle construction waste and use it in road projects, where these wastes are sorted and treated and reintroduced into the base layers and asphalt, supporting the reduction of visual pollution and reducing the indiscriminate disposal of waste.
Reports also showed that some projects have succeeded in recycling high percentages of construction waste, turning it into materials suitable for use in construction, especially in road and infrastructure projects, enhancing the sector efficiency and reducing operational costs.

Records also showed that some projects succeeded in recycling high percentages of construction wastes and turning them into usable materials for construction, especially in road and infrastructure projects, enhancing the efficiency of the sector and reducing operational costs.

Environmental and economic dimensions
The recycling of construction and demolition waste contributes to reducing pressure on landfills, reducing emissions resulting from the transportation of raw materials from long distances, and reducing the costs associated with traditional construction materials.
The reuse of these materials in road projects helps enhance the sustainability of infrastructure and supports the Kingdom's orientation towards reducing the environmental impact of the urban sector as part of the transformation towards a more resource-efficient economy.

Recycling of construction waste in road projects supports the Kingdom's drive to reduce the environmental impact of the construction sector, as part of the objectives of the transformation towards a more efficient economy in resource management.

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Towards a circular economy in the construction sector
Official trends confirm that the management of construction and demolition waste is no longer just a removal or disposal process, but has become part of an integrated system for reuse and recycling, in line with the Kingdom's plans to increase the efficiency of waste management and maximize its use in development projects. With the continued expansion of construction projects in the Kingdom, the sector is expected to witness further development in recycling technologies, especially in the fields of roads and infrastructure, reinforcing the role of sustainability as a key element in the future of construction in Saudi Arabia.

With the continued expansion of construction projects in the Kingdom, the sector is expected to witness further development in recycling technologies, especially in the fields of roads and infrastructure.