Environmental Standards

Thermal Treatment and Incineration

Design and Operation

KSA

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Environmental Standard

Thermal Treatment and Incineration Design and Operation

Article I Preliminary

1)

Definitions
APCDs refers to air pollution control devices.
Authorisation
Process
refers
to
the
determination of all applications for the development
of a new thermal treatment facility by the Competent
Agency up to the point where permission is granted
to proceed with the development.

Fluidised Bed Combustion is a combustion

technology system in which a sand bed (or similar
inert material) is fluidised by air jets, heated to
temperatures high enough to support combustion,
combustible wastes are then added.
Fly Ash is the fine dust that is removed from the
flue gas in the flue gas cleaning process of thermal
treatment operations.

Bottom Ash is ash that collects at the bottom of a

combustion chamber. It is the unburned and nonburnable materials discharged from the combustor at
the end of the burning cycle.

Gasification is the process whereby carbon based

wastes are heated in the presence of air or steam to
produce a solid, low in carbon, and a gas.

Bunds are systems which contain waste in an

embankment or secondary container to prevent the
waste from travelling or escaping.

Generator is a commercial or industrial

organisation which produces or stores trackable
waste and arranges for this waste to be sent for
storage, recycling, treatment or disposal at another
location via an authorised transporter.

CQA refers to construction quality assurance.

Char/Slag is the material remaining following
partial or complete combustion, or other thermal
treatment process such as Pyrolysis and Gasification.
Competent Agency where referenced, refers to
the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment or
its designated representative.
Construction Quality Assurance Plan (CQA)
refers to the documentation to be provided outlining
the successful construction of the facility and
providing evidence that all design performance
specifications have been met.
Disposal is all operations of incineration; landfill;
precipitation; or intentional or unintentional, direct or
indirect, discharge of any wastes or hazardous, toxic
or radioactive substances, either in gaseous, liquid or
solid forms, into the environment.
"Emission" means the direct or indirect release of
substances, vibrations, heat or noise from individual
or diffuse sources in the plant into the air, water or
soil.
"Emission limit values" means the mass,
expressed in terms of certain specific parameters,
concentration and/or level of an emission, which may
not be exceeded during one or more periods of time.
Feedstock refers to the raw material required for
the process.

GER refers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias

General Environmental Regulations 2001.
Hazardous Waste is a waste with properties that
make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful
effect on human health and the environment.
Incineration is the controlled thermal treatment of
waste by burning, either to reduce its volume or
toxicity. Energy recovery from incineration can be
made by utilising the calorific value of the waste to
produce heat and/or power.
"Incineration plant" means any stationary or mobile
technical unit and equipment dedicated to the thermal
treatment of wastes with or without recovery of the
combustion heat generated. This includes the
incineration by oxidation of waste as well as other
thermal treatment processes such as pyrolysis and
gasification insofar as the substances resulting from
the treatment are subsequently incinerated. This
definition covers the site and the entire incineration
plant including all incineration lines, waste reception,
storage, on site pre-treatment facilities, waste-fuel
and air-supply systems, boiler, facilities for the
treatment of exhaust gases, on-site facilities for
treatment or storage of residues and waste water,
stack, devices and systems for controlling
incineration operations, recording and monitoring
incineration conditions.
KSA refers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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PME Reference

Thermal Treatment includes incineration and

other treatments, such as gasification and pyrolysis
insofar as the substances resulting from the
treatment are subsequently incinerated; the thermal
treatment must result in the change to the chemical
structure of the original waste, and the change is not
reversible.

Landfill is any facility, other than a ground

treatment facility or a storage pool, where wastes are
disposed of in an environmentally safe manner either
by placing them on the ground or burying them
underground.
Moving Grate System is the most common type of
grate mechanism in energy from waste plants,
designed to carry the feedstock through the furnace.
It is composed of interlocking bars to facilitate
movement.

Transporter means a person engaged in the offsite transportation of waste by air, rail, highway or
water and is anyone who transports the trackable
waste from its place of production or storage to
another location.

Non-Hazardous Waste refers to waste which in

its current state, does not pose an immediate danger
to human health or the environment.

Treatment is any means or technique of altering

the physical, chemical or biological properties of
wastes used to neutralise such wastes; utilise
substances or energy contained therein or released
by them; and transform the hazardous wastes into
wastes that are non-hazardous, less hazardous or
safer when transported, stored, disposed of,
prepared for storage, or reduced in volume.

Parameter shall refer to a chemical, physical or

biological measurement factor as listed.
PME refers to the Presidency of Meteorology and
Environment who are designated as the responsible
authority for the protection of the environment and
the development of environmental protection
standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

TSD Facility refers to a treatment, storage and/or

a disposal facility.

POPs refers to persistent organic pollutants.

Vitrification is a process that uses high
temperatures to melt hazardous waste into molten
glass. Subsequent cooling of molten glass material
results in solid blocks of material which are resistant
to leaching hazardous constituents.

Pyrolysis is the thermal degradation of waste in

the absence of air to produce gas (often termed
syngas), liquid (pyrolysis oil) or solid (char, mainly
ash and carbon). The solid fraction may be
subsequently fed into a gasification process.
Quarantine Area refers to a location within the
site which is set aside for the temporary storage of
potentially unacceptable waste materials pending
final confirmation.

WAC refers to Waste Acceptance Criteria.

"Residue" means any liquid or solid material

(including bottom ash and slag, fly ash and boiler
dust, solid reaction products from gas treatment,
spent catalysts and spent activated carbon),
classified as waste in the Waste Classification
Standard, which is generated by the incineration
process, the exhaust gas or other processes within
the incineration plant.

Waste Handler is a generator, transporter and

receiver of waste who has waste responsibilities.

Waste Facility is a site for recycling, storing,

treating or disposing of waste.

Waste Receiver is any person operating a facility

to whom waste is transported for recycling, storage,
treatment or disposal.
Working Plan is the operational plan developed
prior to the acceptance of waste which sets out the
operational methods to be used on site and
demonstrates how environmental and human health
impacts will be managed and controlled.

Risk Assessment is the process of identifying and

quantifying a risk and assessing the significance of
that risk in relation to other risks.
Site Identification Number means the number
assigned by the Competent Agency to each TSD
facility operator of hazardous waste.

2)

a) This document may be cited as the National

Thermal Treatment and Incineration Design and
Operation Standard for KSA. This standard revises
the current General Standards for the Environment
(specifically document number 1409-01) issued by
the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment
(PME).

Storage means all operations intended to keep or

contain wastes and other hazardous, toxic or
radioactive substances for the purpose of treatment,
transportation or disposal.
Syngas is the term used to refer to 'Synthetic gas'
produced by the thermal decomposition of organic
based materials through pyrolysis and gasification
processes. The gas is rich in methane, hydrogen and
carbon monoxide and may be used as a fuel or
directly combusted to generate electricity.

Citation

3)
.

Timescales for implementation

a) The effective date of this standard is 01/05/1433H
corresponds to 24/03/2012G.

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4)

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

6)

Purpose

7)

ii)

Design of new incineration plants which

accept waste from across the KSA
whether a material or substance is inert,
non-hazardous or a hazardous waste, as
the case may be.
Operation of incineration plants to ensure
that the sites are managed in a manner
which will have least possible impact upon
the neighbouring environment or human
health;.

b) The Thermal Treatment and Incineration Design

and Operation Standard shall be recognised and
used accordingly for those the purposes stated in 13-a.
c) This Standard guides those developing and
operating thermal treatment and incineration facilities
to:
i)

understand the best practice requirements

with respect to thermal treatment and
incineration design and operation;

ii)

develop new incineration plants with due

regard to international best practice;

iii)

understand
the
necessary
site
development requirements for incineration
plants dealing with different waste types;
and

iv)

provide for future site closure and after

care requirements on completion of the
site operations.

d) The Standard is intended for use as a default

position for thermal treatment and incineration
design, operation and site closure.
5)

Scope

Exemptions
a) Specific exemptions may be specified within this
standard at any point where relevant to the Article
that they are common to.

a) The Standard for Thermal Treatment and

Incineration Design and Operations has effect for
purposes connected with the regulation of waste and
hazardous waste, and in particular for the purposes
of the:
i)

PME Reference

Powers of Authority
a) Within the scope of these standards the
Competent Agency may:

i)

prescribe specific requirements at any time

as to other characteristics of waste;

ii)

authorise such relaxations or departures

from, the waste standards and make any
such
authorisation
subject
to
the
prescribed conditions, and to modify or
revoke any such authorisation or condition;
and

iii)

authorise a local Concerned Agency to

exercise any power conferred by these
regulations by paragraphs i) - iii) above.

b) The Competent Agency may, for the purposes of

this Standard, appoint persons to act on their behalf
as technical assessors and monitors in relation to the
powers and duties conferred on him by this standard
and/or its subsequent amendments.
c) In addition to the responsibilities conferred by
other sections contained within this standard, it shall
be the duty of a relevant party;
i) to give the Competent Agency all such
assistance; and
ii) to provide the Competent Agency with all
such information, as that may reasonably be
required for the purpose of carrying out an
investigation

d) The Competent Agency or appointed individual for

the purpose of waste regulation may:
i) Enter any premises for the purpose of
carrying out any investigation.

a) The Standard applies to all new incineration plant

pre-development.
However, existing incineration
plant operators must, as far as practicable,
implement the relevant best practice measures
contained within this Standard.
b) This Standard sets out the design parameters and
operational requirements through to site closure for
non-mobile thermal treatment and incineration
processes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
b) This Standard applies to mass burn incineration
techniques, waste to energy facilities and the
advanced thermal treatment processes of pyrolysis
and gasification.

ii) carry out such inspections, measurements

and tests on premises entered, articles or
records found on any such premises, and take
away such samples of waste or articles, as may
be considered appropriate for the purpose of
enabling such investigation; or
iii) at any reasonable time require any relevant
party to supply him with copies of, or of extracts
from, any records kept for the purpose of
demonstrating
compliance
with
waste
standards.

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e) This standard enables the issue of regulations and

technical memoranda which are enforceable by the
Competent Agency who hold delegated authority
under the General Environmental Regulations.

8)

1)

Enforcement procedures
b) A broad classification may be made between mass
burn incineration and other types which require
different levels of detailed design depending upon
their potential to impact on human health or the wider
environment.
c) The provisions of this Standard apply to the
following classification of the varying types of thermal
treatment processes:

b) It is anticipated that the requirements of this

standard will be enforced nationally with inspections
taking place to verify their implementation at a
regional and local level.

Penalty fines
a) Maximum fines that may be imposed for exceeding
the applicable standard, breach of permit and failure
to comply with an abatement notice are set out in the
General Environmental Regulations.
2)

10)

i)

mass burn incineration with no energy

recovery;

ii)

energy from waste facilities including

moving grate plants, fluidised bed
technology and other kilns; and

iii)

advanced thermal treatment processes,

specifically pyrolysis and gasification.

Mass Burn Incineration

Appeals
a) Mass burn incineration is the large-scale
incineration of municipal solid waste in a single-stage
chamber unit in which complete combustion or
oxidation occurs at temperatures above 850oC.
Typical throughputs of waste are between 10 and 50
tonnes per hour.

a) A right of appeal exists for any organisation or

individual who is required to take action as a
consequence of the implementation of the revised
standard.
b) The right of appeal against conviction or sentence
is available through the appropriate judicial system as
set out in the General Environmental Regulations.

11)

General classification
a) The classification of incineration and thermal
treatment processes is based upon a variety of
criteria including their capacity, the nature of the
waste to be combusted and the type of system.

a) Failure to comply with the requirements of these

standards may lead to prosecution by the Competent
Agency and those convicted of such failure may be
subject to fines or periods of imprisonment as laid out
in the General Environmental Regulations.

9)

PME Reference

3)

Other Incineration and Energy from Waste

Processes

c) All appeals should be fully supported with a

documented case containing as a minimum, the
information required under the appeals process of
the General Environmental Regulations.

a) Other types of incineration processes involve

smaller scale throughputs of between 1 and 2 tonnes
per hour for wastes including medical waste, sewage
sludge and hazardous waste.

Periodic review

b) Typical examples of such systems and energy

from waste processes include:

a) As a minimum, the Competent Agency shall

undertake a periodic review of this standard every 5
years.
b) Where new information suggests that adjustments
are required to this standard, all changes will be
subject to the appropriate consultation and will be
notified to facilities by the Competent Agency.
Appropriate implementation time will be allowed.

Article II Classification of Thermal Treatment and

Incineration Processes

i)

fluidised bed incinerators used for a

wide variety of wastes including municipal
waste, sewage sludge, hazardous waste,
liquid and gaseous wastes, and wastes
with difficult combustion properties;

ii)

starved air incinerators starved air or

pyrolytic incinerators used for medical
waste incineration and for some industrial
wastes;

iii)

rotary kiln incinerators used for the

treatment of hazardous, medical and
industrial wastes;

iv)

cement kiln incinerators used for the

disposal of municipal waste, industrial
waste, tyres and hazardous wastes;

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2)
v)

vi)

4)

small scale thermal treatments include

moving grate systems of less than
100,000 tonnes of waste per annum and
rotating/oscillating kilns, as well as other
proprietary combustion processes; and

Site Location
a) When locating an incineration plant
consideration must be given to the following:
i)

distance from the site boundary to

sensitive receptors such as residential
properties, recreation areas, coastal water
resources and agricultural areas;

ii)

presence of groundwater, surface water,

coastal water or nature conservation
zones;

iii)

geological and hydrogeological conditions

underlying the site; and

iv)

other undetermined local factors which

could be impacted by a proposed thermal
treatment and/or incineration facility which
will be identified at the local level during
the Environmental Assessment.

liquid and gaseous waste incinerators.

Advanced Thermal Treatment Processes

a) Pyrolysis and gasification processes are classified
as advanced thermal treatment processes.
b) During pyrolysis organic waste is heated in the
absence of air to produce a mixture of gaseous and
liquid fuels and a solid inert residue (mainly carbon).
Pyrolysis usually takes place between 400-1000C.
Pyrolysis generally requires a consistent waste
stream such as tyres or plastics to produce a usable
fuel product.

b) Consideration must always be given to utilising

not only the electricity from a thermal treatment
and/or incineration plant but also the waste heat.
As a result specific plant should look to be sited
close to where its electrical and thermal outputs
can be used.

c) Gasification takes place at higher temperatures

than pyrolysis (1,000-1,400C) in a controlled amount
of oxygen. The majority of the carbon content in the
waste is converted into a gaseous form (syngas).
d) Depending on the technology, waste can be
processed to produce storable end products such as
gas, oil or char which can be used for energy
production or petrochemical uses.

3)

Site Specific Design Considerations

a) Site considerations are also important throughout
the design stage as no two facilities will be identical
even though they may be developed for the same
type of process.

Article III General Provisions

1)

PME Reference

a) The provisions in this Standard are generic for all

thermal treatment and incineration processes
detailed in Part II of this Standard, unless otherwise
stated.

b) All thermal treatment and incineration facilities

must be designed with the desire for the least
possible local impact and where possible they must
blend in with the local surroundings.

b) Where risk assessments and investigations

identify that a specific provision or requirement is
required then this justification will be taken into
account during the Authorisation Process.
The
minimum information required for authorisation
purposes is outlined in Appendix A in the Pre-Design
Report Requirements for Authorisation.

c) Site factors which affect thermal treatment and

incineration design include (but are not limited to):
i)

topography;

ii)

size and shape of the property area;

iii)

subsurface
geological
hydrogeological conditions;

iv)

surrounding land use;

v)

local ecological aspects;

vi)

seismic considerations; and

vii)

access and ease of transport to the site.

Environmental Assessment
a) An Environmental Assessment will be required
prior to the development of an incineration plant.
This will be necessary to gain a thorough
understanding of the environment where the facility is
to be sited in order to design the facility to minimise
impacts on the environment.
b) As a minimum requirement the Environmental
Assessment should include the items outlined in
Appendix B.

and

d) A detailed pre-construction plan must be provided

to the Competent Agency.
Details of the
requirements for this plan are provided in Appendix A
in the Pre-Design Report Requirements for
Authorisation.

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b) The preferred transportation route to the

incineration plant from the source of the waste or
other TSD Facility must minimise the transport of
waste through residential and other sensitive areas.
This consideration may influence the placement of
the entrance to the facility.

e) A new thermal treatment or incineration facility

must not be established by any person, nor an
increase in the volume at an existing facility be
exercised, unless a written report has been prepared
in accordance with Appendix A.
4)

Site Layout
c) Access to the site will form a mixture of permanent
and temporary roads from the main highway.
Consideration must be given to the facilitys
requirements for permanent roads within the site
boundary, especially on larger sites.

a) Thermal treatment and incineration facilities must

be designed to:
i)

minimise potential environmental impacts;

ii)

minimise health and safety risks for

operators and the public;

iii)

encourage waste recovery; and

iv)

use onsite resources efficiently.

d) Permanent roads must be designed with due

regard to the estimated volume of traffic. Where
possible, two lane traffic (minimum total road width of
7.5 metres) should be provided to allow efficient
entrance and exit from the site.
e) Permanent roads and yard areas must be
constructed of ground supported reinforced concrete
to a specification and depth capable of withstanding
the rigors of large goods vehicle traffic over a
prolonged period, being easily cleaned to reduce
mud and debris and coping with surface water
arisings.

b) To assist in meeting these requirements a detailed

site layout plan must be provided to the Competent
Agency as part of the initial Authorisation Process
prior to the development of the facility to provide
evidence that key concerns have been considered
and addressed prior to the development works.

f) Impermeable pavements must be provided in

relation to the waste reception and storage areas to
provide containment of any drainage or liquids
generated within those areas.

c) On large incineration plants for the treatment or

disposal of solid waste, a gatehouse is to be provided
at the entrance to the site or at a suitable point which
cannot be by-passed by waste transporters when
travelling to the facility. Waste transporters must
verify their waste deliveries in line with the Waste
Tracking requirements as set out in the Waste
Regulatory Control and Compliance Standard.

g) Specifications for the design and construction of

these areas must ensure that the surface provides an
impermeable, durable and easily maintained surface
capable of preventing the transmission of any fluids
through the pavement, or any joints within the
pavement and ensuring the collection of any fluids
into the sealed drainage system (where required).

d) A number of facilities should be provided at the

gatehouse to provide the attendant with the best
practicable opportunity to confirm the acceptability of
incoming wastes including:
i)

a viewing platform which allows a view of

the contents of incoming lorries; and/or

ii)

elevated mirrors or CCTV cameras which

can be used to scrutinise incoming loads.

h) The surfaces must be inspected at monthly

intervals throughout the operational life of the facility
and a record kept of the results of each inspection.
i) In the event that action becomes necessary to
maintain the cleanliness of these areas, the surface
must be cleaned by any manual or mechanical
means available to the site management. Cleaning
may include, but not be limited to; hosing down,
manually sweeping or shovelling, or mechanical
sweepers.

e) A weighbridge must be installed at facilities

treating or disposing of solid wastes to facilitate
accurate record keeping for all necessary
administrative and regulatory purposes.
The
weighbridge should be calibrated at least annually to
confirm the accuracy of records.

j) All necessary repairs will be made to any defects in

the surface to ensure that it remains even, does not
become rutted or subject to differential settlement
and remains free draining and free from standing
water.

Article IV Site Infrastructure Requirements

1)

PME Reference

Roads and Internal Pavements

a) Local infrastructure must be able to sustain the
operation of an incineration plant. The capacity of the
road network to cope safely with any increased traffic
load and with a minimum of disturbance to the local
community must be examined as part of the predevelopment requirements.

k) The external roads and paved yard areas will be

constructed to provide an even surface that slopes to
ensure that drainage is directed towards the surface
water drainage systems.

2)

Surface Water Drainage

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a) Surface water caused by run off of entrained water

from the waste mass or by storm water events must
be adequately controlled through the construction of
interlinked drainage channels across the site
between the operating areas and the surrounding
areas of the site.

d) Any solids or oils collected in the interceptor must

be removed at appropriate intervals to maintain the
capacity of the solids interceptor.
e) The drainage systems must be inspected at
annual intervals throughout the operational life of the
facility to ensure their integrity.

5)

sanitation facilities for site staff and

visitors;

iii)

storage space for site equipment and for

maintenance purposes; and

iv)

first Aid area, fully stocked for minor

accidents.

c) All structures must be located in a suitable area of

the site to allow control of day to day activities whilst
also taking account of health and safety aspects.

4)

Fencing and Security

a) A fence must be constructed around the perimeter
of the incineration plant to:
i)

reduce onsite trespass;

ii)

provide a screen for the facility;

Unacceptable Load Quarantine Area

b) This area must be clearly marked with reference to

its required purpose to ensure that there is no
inadvertent mixing of waste materials.

b) As a minimum, temporary structures must be

located on site providing accommodation to on site
personnel. Such structures must be designed to
provide:

ii)

provide a control for litter blow.

a) An area of the site must be made available to

allow for the temporary segregation of suspect,
burning or unacceptable waste loads which enter the
site. This area should be located away from the main
areas frequented by personnel. Water must be
available in case of burning waste loads.

a) Electricity, water, sanitation and communications

facilities must be provided at all incineration plants to
ensure the health and safety of on-site personnel,
and to enable control of operations on site (such as
dust control, vehicle washing and fire fighting).

office space for general site management

duties and records storage;

iv)

d) Permanent repairs to the fencing and gates must

be completed within seven working days and a note
will be made in the site diary to this effect.

Utilities and Facilities

i)

delineate the property lines; and

c) Maintenance and inspection of the site fencing and

gates along the site boundary must be undertaken on
a routine basis and temporary repairs will be
implemented either upon identification during the
inspection or by the end of the day that the defect is
found. A note of the inspection and repairs will be
kept on site and a record kept of the results of each
inspection.

c) Surface water drainage must be discharged via an

interceptor into a runoff water attenuation lagoon.

3)

iii)

b) Fences must be a minimum of 2 metres tall around

the entire perimeter of the site, with lockable gates
provided at the site entrance. Appropriate signage to
discourage trespassers must be erected at the site
entrance.

b) The design of the drainage system must be taken

into account pre-development.

f) The solids interceptor must be inspected at monthly

intervals and will be subject to periodic maintenance
to remove any accumulated silt and maintain
capacity.

PME Reference

c) A paved surface area of 10 metres by 10 metres

minimum must be provided, with its own linked
drainage collection system. All drainage from this
part of the site must be collected and held in
segregation until laboratory testing proves that it is
suitable for discharge into the onsite surface drainage
system. Where unsuitable, the wash water must be
tankered off for offsite treatment at a suitable water
treatment facility.

6)

Site Identification Board

a) An identification board of durable material and
approximate size 1 metre by 1 metre must be erected
and maintained in a prominent position at the site
entrance. The board must display the following
information:
i)

site name and address;

ii)

operator name;

iii)

waste management licence number;

iv)

site identification number, where relevant;

v)

emergency contact name and telephone

number;

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vi)

days and hours site is open to receive

waste; and

vii)

the
words
TIPPING.

NO

UNAUTHORISED

Article V Thermal Treatment and Incineration Design

Requirements
a) The actual plant design and configuration of
thermal treatment and incineration facilities will differ
considerably
between
technology
providers.
However, incineration plant facilities will typically
consist of the following key elements:
i)

waste reception,
treatment;

handling

ii)

thermal treatment reactor;

iii)

gas and
(optional);

iv)

energy recovery plant (optional);

v)

air emissions clean-up; and

vi)

water emission controls.

residue

and

treatment

1)

visual impact;

ii)

plant size and land take;

iii)

building requirements;

iv)

construction quality assurance;

v)

emission controls; and

vi)

water controls.

i)

direct effect on landscape by removal of

items such as trees or undertaking major
earthworks;

ii)

site setting: is the site close to listed

buildings, conservation areas or sensitive
viewpoints;

iii)

existing large buildings and structures in

the area;

iv)

the potential of a stack associated with

some air clean-up systems for mixed
waste processing operations may impact
on visual intrusion;

v)

use of screening features such as trees,

hedges and bank; and

vi)

the number of vehicles accessing the site

and their frequency.

pre-

d) Many incineration plants are housed in

'warehouse' type clad steel buildings, however use of
good design techniques must be considered to help
minimise visual intrusion.

plant

e) The visual impact of plant, buildings and storage

areas must be reduced by grouping them together or,
where possible, placing them in excavated areas or
upon low-lying land. Appropriate external cladding
and colour of equipment, together with regular
maintenance, must also be applied.

b) Generic design considerations applicable to all

incineration plants include the following:
i)

PME Reference

2)

Plant Size and Land Take

a) Table 1 details the land area required for the
building footprint and also for the entire site (including
supporting site infrastructure) for examples of thermal
treatment and incineration facilities.
b) The parameters detailed in Table 1 must be taken
into consideration during the design stage of an
incineration plant and in deciding site location and
infrastructure requirements.

Visual Impact
a) Intrusive features of an incineration plant can
include weighbridges, chimney stacks, office
accommodation, skip storage areas, fixed plant,
operational and tipping areas and litter-trap fencing.
Visual intrusion of these features must be
substantially reduced by careful site design
particularly by consideration of the effect of the
development on the skyline.

Table 1: Thermal Treatment Size and Land Take

Examples

b) Visual intrusion must also be reduced by taking

account of existing natural screening features and
local topography in the site design.
c) Visual intrusion issues must be dealt with on a site
specific basis and the following items must be
considered:

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

Thermal
Treatment
Process

Size,
tonnes
per
annum

Buildings
2
Area m

Total
Land
Take,
Hectares

Indicative
Stack
Height

Mass Burn

90,000

5,850

1.7

65m

Mass Burn

250,000

6,600

70m

Pyrolysis

12,500

200

+ access

Pyrolysis

35,000

28,000
32,000

Other
Thermal
Treatment
Processes

50,000

3,600

12

c) For the majority of pyrolysis and gasification

plants, the scale of any individual buildings and
process components are likely to be compatible with
most small/medium sized industrial activities.
Buildings will be typically 610 metres to the eaves
and 1015 metres to the ridge, whilst the stack height
is determined by emission characteristics and air
dispersion modelling.

3)

conveyors to assist in assurance of health and safety

for on site personnel.
g) The ceiling must be high enough to accommodate
equipment specifications. Conveying lines, air
classifiers, shredders, and other processing
equipment can be as tall as 15 metres.
h) Exhaust removal systems shall be installed in
enclosed areas and operated to provide adequate
ventilation within the facility.

4)

30 70m

Building Requirements
a) Local building codes must be carefully followed
when designing an incineration plant. Basics such as
the number of bathrooms, minimal working space per
employee, and other requirements may be specified.
Working condition rules such as minimum and
maximum temperatures, air changes, and required
ventilation may also influence design.
b) The outside walls of the building must be designed
to allow safe and easy access for incoming and
outgoing vehicles. It is important to design doors wide
and high enough to accommodate vehicles unloading
inside the building, and to minimise potential for open
trucks backing out to cause structural damage.
c) The number of doors provided for vehicular
entrance into the facility must provide scope to
accommodate the expected number of trucks at
normal peak times. The same is true for loading
areas where reclaimed materials will be loaded onto
trailers for transport to markets.
d) The building must have as few interior columns as
possible to allow the maximum flexibility for placing
equipment and accommodating future needs to
rearrange the layout.

PME Reference

Construction Quality Assurance (CQA)

a) The technical specifications for all aspects of
engineered containment and drainage must be
derived from engineering and environmental risk
assessments and will ensure all pollution prevention
and control measures will be designed to meet with
best practice.
b) All aspects of the construction of engineered
containment and drainage will be submitted to the
Competent Agency for approval prior to commencing
construction works.
c) All aspects of the construction of engineered
containment and drainage shall be subject to
Construction
Quality
Assurance
to
ensure
construction is compliant with the required technical
specification as laid out in the Construction Quality
Assurance Plan.
d) The CQA plan must be able to verify:
i)

that materials used comply with site

specific specifications; and

ii)

that the method of construction and

installation is appropriate and design
requirements have been met.

c) The CQA plan must contain the:

i)

material and construction specifications

laid out for the proposed buildings and
pavement areas;

ii)

testing methods
compliance;

iii)

testing frequency.;

iv)

corrective action to be taken where

necessary; and

v)

appropriate documentation procedures

which outline what has been done.

used

to

confirm

d) The CQA must be provided for:

e) The floor must be strong enough in all places to
accommodate both vehicles and heavy, stationary
processing equipment.

i)

f) The floor must also be designed to allow for the

anchoring of equipment such as separation plant and

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

all elements of basal containment

engineering, including internal floor slabs,
external pavement areas and bunded
areas; and

Page 9 of 19

KSA

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

ii)

surface
water
and
management systems.

groundwater

e) The production of the CQA plan, and all testing

and reporting must be completed under the control of
a suitably qualified Chartered Engineer.
On
completion, a validation report must be produced and
submitted to the Competent Agency which must
include:
i)

5)

demonstration of CQA compliance

throughout the construction period;

ii)

justifications for any changes

deviations from the agreed plan;

or

iii)

the results of all testing - this must include

the records of any failed tests with a
written explanation, and details of the
remedial action taken, referenced to the
appropriate secondary testing;

iv)

plans showing the location of all tests;

v)

"as-built" plans and sections of the works;

vi)

copies of the site engineers daily records;

vii)

records of any problems or noncompliances and the solution applied; and

viii)

any other site specific information

considered relevant to proving the integrity
of the facility construction.

Emission Controls and Clean-Up

a) Thermal treatment processes must, where
practicable, be designed to operate under negative
pressure within buildings to minimise dust and odour
problems.
b) Proposals for new facilities must include detailed
assessment of emissions to air, addressing:
i)

air quality objectives; and

ii)

exposure to dioxins and furans effects on

health and the environment.

c) The principal air emission components emitted

from any thermal treatment process are:

PME Reference

d) Incineration traditional fuels (for example, fuel oil

or gas) are only used during start-up, and therefore
the majority of emissions from the incinerator plant
are due to waste combustion.
e) The assessment of emissions to air from
incineration focuses on emissions through the
incinerator waste gas stack. No assessment is made
in this Standard of emissions created by the storage
and processing of waste prior to incineration, nor of
potential releases of ash to air.
f) The design of incineration plants must be such that
emission limits during operation are not exceeded.
The respective emission limits for each key pollutant
are shown in Table 2:
Table 2: Emission Limits for Thermal Treatment
Processes
Substances
Emission Limits
Dust
10
Total organic carbon
10
Hydrogen chloride
10
Hydrogen fluoride
1
Sulphur oxides
50
Carbon monoxide
50
Nitrogen oxides
200
Metals Group 1:
0.05
Cadmium, thallium
Metals Group 2:
0.05
Mercury
0.5
Metals Group 3:
Antimony, arsenic, lead,
chromium, cobalt, copper,
manganese, nickel,
vanadium
Dioxins and furans
0.1 ng/m3
Notes:
(a) All concentrations are given in units of milligrams per
normal cubic metre of stack gas, corrected to 11%
oxygen at 273K and 101.3KPa except dioxins, which are
expressed in nanograms of international toxic
equivalent (I-TEQ) per normal cubic metre of stack gas.
(b) Values relate to 24 hour averages except metals
which are 30 min 8 hour and dioxins which are
6 hour 8 hour averages.

g) To ensure that the facility

decrease in the regions air
plants must be equipped with
combustion air pollution control
remove various pollutants prior
stack.

will not result in a

quality, incineration
one or more postdevices (APCDs) to
to release from the

i)

acid gases;

ii)

carbon dioxide;

iii)

dioxins and furans;

iv)

heavy metals; and

i)

electrostatic filters (precipitators;

v)

particulates.

ii)

fabric filters;

iii)

spray dry scrubbing systems;

h) The APCDs must achieve emission rates that do

not exceed the emission limits detailed in Table 2.
Types of APCDs that may be used to offset
emissions include:

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

a) A Site Specific Working Plan, required in

accordance with the site specific waste management
licence application must be developed and forwarded
to the Competent Agency for review and agreement
prior to operations commencing on the site.

iv)

dry sorbent injection systems;

v)

wet scrubbers; and

vi)

activated carbon injection technology.

b) The Working Plan will constitute the documentary
procedures which will be used to control all aspects
of work on site. Issues to be considered and
included within the Working Plan are outlined below
in the following sections.

i) To assist the operator in the proper operation of the

combustion process, incineration plants must be
designed to include the provision of continuous
emission control equipment, to monitor stack
emissions and gas temperatures to control the
scrubber process.

j) The clean-up required for flue gases from the

2)

combustion of syngas (and in some instances also

the residual solid, if it has high carbon content) is
dependent on the process from which they have
been generated.

b) All labelling must be resilient enough to stay

attached and legible throughout the whole time of
storage at the installation.

l) A further solid residue produced is from abatement

plant used to clean-up the flue gases from the
combustion process. These solid residues are
hazardous in nature and must be disposed of
appropriately.

c) A daily inspection of the condition of containers

and pallets must be undertaken and written records
kept of these inspections. If a container is found to be
damaged, leaking or in a state of deterioration, it
must immediately be over-drummed or the contents
transferred to another container or processed.

Water Design Controls

d) Containers must be stored in such a manner that
leaks and spillages could not escape over
bunds/edge of the sealed drainage area.

a) Design proposals for new incineration plants must

include anhydrous (i.e. dry or semi-dry) gas cleaning
systems for flue gases which result in no emissions
to water from air pollution abatement systems.

e) The operator of the incineration plant must take all

necessary precautions concerning the delivery and
reception of waste in order to prevent or to limit as far
as practicable negative effects on the environment, in
particular the pollution of air, soil, surface water and
groundwater as well as odours and noise, and direct
risks to human health.

b) The following considerations must be taken into

account when designing an incineration plant to
ensure protection of surface and groundwater
resources:
i)

impermeable hardstanding where waste

is to be stored, handled or treated;

ii)

measures to control diesel, oil or

chemical spillage; and

iii)

separate drainage systems for clean

and dirty site run-off.

4)

Article VI - Operations
a) The actual plant operation of thermal treatment
and incineration facilities will differ between
technology providers and the process employed.
Provisions in this Standard relating to specific thermal
treatment and incineration processes, must be met in
addition to generic operational considerations which
are applicable to all types of incineration plants.
1)

Waste Handling
a) Waste delivered to the incineration plant by waste
transporters must be managed in accordance with
the requirements in the Waste Classification
Standard, the Waste Handling and Storage Standard
and the Waste Regulatory Control and Compliance
Standard.

k) Entrained (fine) particles in the syngas must either

be removed before or after combustion depending on
the treatment process and combustion technology
employed.

6)

PME Reference

Working Plan

Unacceptable Loads
a) Loads which fail to meet with the waste tracking
and licensing requirements, as set out in the Waste
Regulatory Control and Compliance Standard, must
be held within a dedicated quarantine area at the
facility. As a minimum the following records must be
held for each and every load:

i)

date of arrival;

ii)

details of the source of the waste and the

company bringing the waste to the site;

iii)

a copy of the Waste Tracking Form (see

the Waste Regulatory Control and
Compliance Standard provisions); and

iv)

where relevant, the

Hazardous Waste Code.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

accompanying

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

i)

monitor the combustion temperature,

waste feed rate, and indicator of
combustion
gas
velocity on
a
continuous basis;

ii)

monitor carbon monoxide on a

continuous basis at a point downstream
of the combustion zone and prior to
release into the atmosphere;

iii)

sample and analyse the waste and

exhaust emissions upon request of the
Competent Agency to verify that the
operating requirements established in
the waste management licence achieve
the performance standards.

iv)

conduct daily visual inspections of the

incinerator and associated equipment.

v)

test the emergency waste feed cut-off

system and associated alarms at least
weekly unless otherwise directed by the
Competent Agency at a minimum
operational testing must be conducted
monthly; and

vi)

place monitoring and inspection data in

the operating log.

b) All labelling must be resilient enough to stay

attached and legible throughout the whole time of
storage at the installation.
c) A daily inspection of the condition of containers
and pallets must be undertaken and written records
kept of these inspections. If a container is found to be
damaged, leaking or in a state of deterioration, it
must immediately be over-drummed or the contents
transferred to another container or processed.
d) All spillages of hazardous wastes must be logged.
Where spillages are greater than 200 litres the
Competent Agency must be informed.
e) Containers must be stored in such a manner that
leaks and spillages could not escape over
bunds/edge of the sealed drainage area (see the
Waste Handling and Storage Standard).

5)

Maintenance and Monitoring

a) As a minimum, effective operational and
maintenance systems must be employed on all
aspects of the site where failure could impact on the
environment. There must be:
i)

documented procedures to control

operations that may have an adverse
impact on the environment;

ii)

a defined procedure for identifying,

reviewing and prioritising items of plant for
which a preventative maintenance regime
is appropriate;

iii)

documented procedures for monitoring

emissions or impacts; and

iv)

a planned preventative maintenance

programme covering all plant, whose
failure could lead to impact on the
environment.

6)

Competence and Training

a) The Technical Competence and training of
operatives involved in the incineration plant must be
undertaken in accordance with the Waste Training
and Assessment of Technical Competence of
Operators Standard.
b) Operator training is essential for the efficient and
effective operation of the incineration plant. Operator
training must be designed to ensure correct
incineration plant operation in all circumstances,
including during emergency situations or unexpected
power supply problems. Adequate training will assist
in preventing unacceptable environmental impacts.

b) Routine testing and monitoring of the incineration

plant must be carried out in order to maintain highquality operation of the processes and prevent
harmful emissions to the environment.

b) Additional training must be provided to all staff

working within the confines of the incineration plant
with respect to:

c) Routine inspections of the furnace and APCDs

must be conducted to ensure system integrity and the
proper performance of the incinerator and its
components.

i)

health and Safety and the individual

responsibilities that all have for the safety
of others; and

ii)

understanding of the environmental

impacts that their work could have and
provision of instructions to assist in
reducing these impacts.

d) High efficiency combustion must be facilitated by

establishing a monitoring regime of key operating
parameters, such as carbon monoxide, by the use of
continuous emission monitoring equipment.
e) The operator of an incineration plant handling
hazardous waste must perform, as a minimum, the
following functions:

PME Reference

7)

Accident Plans
a) An Accident Plan must be in place (reviewed at
least once every three years, or in the event of an
accident) which identifies:

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

i)

the likelihood
accidents; and

and

consequence

of

ii)

actions to prevent accidents and mitigate

any consequences.

ii)

traffic noise on the local road networks;

iii)

mechanical processing such as waste

preparation;

iv)

air extraction
systems;

v)

steam turbine units; and

vi)

air cooled condenser units.

b) The Accident Plan will:

8)

and

ventilation

identify the potential on-site accident

hazards;

ii)

provide an assessment of the risks;

iii)

identify necessary
measures;

management

b) Measures must be taken to minimise the nuisance

arising from the incineration plant in relation to noise
pollution.

iv)

specify the risk management measures

that are used at the incineration plant;

c) Where noise issues are likely to be relevant, the

Operator must provide information on the following:

v)

include contingency actions to be

undertaken in the event of an accident to
mitigate consequences; and

vi)

make provision for the hazards displayed

by any hazardous wastes accepted at the
incineration plant.

risk

Compliance Reporting

b) There must be written procedures for handling,

investigating,
communicating
and
reporting
environmental complaints and implementation of
appropriate actions.
c) There must be written procedures for investigating
incidents, (and near misses) including identifying
suitable corrective action and follow up.

b) The gates of the incineration plant must be locked

outside operating hours.
c) Access to each facility must be controlled by
systems to detect and discourage illegal dumping at
the facility.

Noise
a) The main contributors to noise associated with
incineration plants are likely to be:
i)

i)

the main sources of noise and vibration

that will fall within the installation and also
on infrequent sources of noise and
vibration;

ii)

operating timescales of the incineration

plant;

iii)

the nearest noise-sensitive sites;

iv)

conditions/limits
regimes;

v)

the local noise environment;

vi)

any environmental noise measurement

surveys, modelling or any other noise
measurements; and

vii)

any specific local issues and proposals for

improvements.

imposed

under

other

d) Where there are sensitive receptors present, a

Noise Management Plan must be developed which
provides details on how noise will be managed within
the site and the measures to be adopted to reduce
those noise impacts.

Site Security
a) The incineration plant must be secured to prevent
free access to the site.

11)

fans

i)

a) Written procedures must be in place for handling,

investigating, communicating and reporting actual or
potential non-compliance with operating procedures
or emission limits.

10)

PME Reference

12)

Management of Residues
a) Ash and particulate residue must be appropriately
disposed of. Prior to disposal, chemical analysis of
the waste is required to ensure that the content of
substances which are environmentally hazardous is
maintained below the acceptable level for disposal at
the appropriate landfill site in accordance with the
provisions in the Waste Acceptance Criteria Standard
and the Waste Classification Standard.
b) Bottom and fly ash from the incinerator must be
properly handled, transported, and disposed of.
Covered hauling and dedicated landfills are a
common practice for managing these residues.

Vehicle movements/manoeuvring;

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

combustion air in the plant processes will destroy

most odours.

c) If re-use of the residues, such as bottom ash, is

contemplated, an evaluation of the unintentional
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) content and
potential environmental mobility must be carried out.

g) Dust and odour emissions must be minimised by

performing all operations under controlled conditions
indoors where practical, good working practices and
effective
management
undertaken
for
dust
suppression from vehicle movements.

d) APCD residuals including fly ash and scrubber

sludges may contain relatively high concentrations of
heavy metals, organic pollutants, chlorides and
sulfides. Their method of disposal must therefore be
strictly controlled. Wet scrubber systems in particular
produce large quantities of acidic, contaminated
liquid waste. Treatment methods that may be
considered include the catalytic treatment of fabric
filter dusts under conditions of low temperatures and
lack of oxygen and the vitrification of fabric filter
dusts.

13)

h) A regular odour impact assessment must be

undertaken by the Operator. The impact assessment
must cover a range of reasonably foreseeable odour
generation and receptor exposure scenarios and the
effect of different mitigation options.
i) As part of the Working Plan an Odour Management
Plan must be developed and maintained including:

Air-borne Nuisance Controls

a) Measures must be put in place to minimise the
nuisance arising from the incineration plant in relation
to:
i)

emissions of dust and odour;

ii)

wind-blown materials; and

iii)

the formation of aerosols.

b) Site operations must have due regard to the need

to control dirt originating from the site being
dispersed onto public roads and the surrounding
land.
c) All of the potential impacts of a biological treatment
facility must be identified during conceptual model
development and refined during the Authorisation
Process. Detailed measures to mitigate the impacts
must be included in the design of the facility and set
out in the Working Plan.
d) As a minimum, procedures must be in place to
deal with particulate matter arising from:
i)

the placement of wastes;

ii)

traffic on site roads;

iii)

site
preparation
activities;

iv)

surface emissions; and

v)

carriage of dust/mud onto the highway.

and

PME Reference

14)

i)

control measures to prevent or control

odour;

ii)

demonstration/justification that there will

not be an odour problem under normal
conditions;

iii)

a description or copy of any conditions or

limits put in place by the Competent
Agency which relate to the prevention or
minimisation of odour;

iv)

identification of the actions to be taken in

the event of abnormal events or
conditions which might lead to odour, or
potential odour problems;

v)

an understanding of the impact in the

event of abnormal events or conditions;

vi)

monitoring undertaken; and

vii)

communication with local residents if an

odour problem arises or is likely to arise.

Control of Pests, Vermin and Birds

a) Incineration plants are unlikely to attract pests,
vermin and birds due to the majority of waste
throughput and operations being conducted in
enclosed buildings. However, during hot weather it is
possible that flies could accumulate, especially if they
have been brought in during delivery of the waste.

restoration

b) Insect infestations commonly arise from waste

which has been awaiting collection for some time.
Procedures must be put in place to prevent or limit
the acceptance of such wastes. The Operator must
reduce the risk of infestation by prompt treatment or
incineration of such wastes.

e) Dust and odour emissions must be minimised by

good building design and performing all operations
under controlled conditions indoors, good working
practices and effective management undertaken for
dust suppression from vehicle movements.
f) Thermal treatment processes must, where
practicable, be operated under negative pressure
within buildings to minimise dust and odour problems.
Using air internal to the process building for

15)

Litter
a) Any waste which contains plastics and paper is
more likely to lead to litter problems. Litter problems
can be minimised as long as good working practices

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KSA

16)

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

are adhered to, vehicles use covers and reception

and processing are undertaken indoors.

within stored wastes or process products being

ignited (potentially through vandalism).

Water Resources

b) Small fires may, if possible, be safely brought

under control using fire-fighting equipment present on
site.

a) Wastewater can be generated during operation at

an incineration plant in various forms. These include
tipping floor run-off system wash water, ash quench
water and water from pollution control systems.

c) In the event of a fire that cannot be easily or safely

brought under control then the site Fire Emergency
Procedure will be put into action. This procedure will
be developed with the local Fire Authority and will be
in place prior to any wastes being treated at the site.

b) Incineration plants must also deal with sanitary

wastewater disposal and surface-water run-off.

d) Fire fighting equipment of a suitable type shall be

kept at appropriate locations as advised by the
Company Health and Safety Department and/or the
local Fire Authority.

c) Where possible, wastewater must be recycled in a

closed-loop system. In these systems, water from
floor drains, ash dewatering, water softener recharge,
and other process wastewaters are collected and
stored in a surge tank. This water must then be
reused for ash quenching.

e) The locations of fire fighting equipment and

materials will be detailed in the Fire Emergency Plan.
f) All fire fighting equipment must be kept in good
condition, unobstructed and maintained to a standard
as required by the local Fire Authority.

d) Groundwater contamination at incineration plants

is unlikely. Handling of surface waters and ash
disposal must be properly managed to minimise any
potential contamination to groundwater.

17)

PME Reference

g) Any fire arising on site must be reported to the

Competent Agency as soon as possible, having due
regard firstly to any steps necessary to tackle the fire
and its immediate consequences. A record of the
occurrence of a fire must also be maintained in the
site diary, along with any actions taken.

Control of Leaks and Spillages

a) Where spillages of dry wastes occur, these must
be cleared by either manual or mechanical means,
for example handpicking, sweeping or shovelling,
depending on the size and location of the spillage.

h) Following approval by the Fire Authority and/or site

manager the residues from the fire will be disposed of
accordingly at a suitable licensed waste management
facility.

b) Minor spillages of liquid must be contained using

spillage kits or any suitable readily available
absorbent material. This material must be disposed
of in a manner appropriate to the type of material
absorbed.

i) Any contaminated water arising from fire fighting

within the waste treatment building or bunded areas
must be collected and disposed of to an appropriate
facility.

c) A record must be maintained in the site diary of

any spillages so treated.
d) In the event of a major spillage the site drains must
be sealed off where possible and a specialist
contractor brought on site to clear the spillage.

Article VII Record Keeping

1)

e) The Competent Agency must be informed of any

major spillage event and a record made in the site
diary.

a) A record of the types and quantities (in tonnes) of

wastes received at the site, and wastes/process
products removed from the site must be maintained
and kept in the site office.

f) Spillage kits and other emergency equipment must

be stored in the appropriate areas of the site. The
Competent Agency must be informed of the location
and content of this equipment prior to the
commencement of waste treatment operations at the
site.

18)

Fire Prevention and Control

b) A summary of the types and quantities of wastes

deposited at the site and waste residues removed
from the site must be provided to the Competent
Agency at an agreed frequency and in an agreed
format.

2)

a) All fires on site must be treated as a potential

emergency and dealt with accordingly. Fires may
occur due to plant failure or combustible material

Waste Movement Records

Records of Significant Events

a) The following significant events must be recorded,
on site:

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

i)

the start and finish of any construction

and engineering works undertaken on
site;

ii)

start and finish of waste management

processes carried out on site;

iii)

maintenance;

iv)

breakdowns;

v)

emergencies;

vi)

problems with waste received and action

taken;

vii)

site inspections;

viii)

attendance of technically competent

management on site;

ix)

despatch of records to the Competent

Agency;

x)

severe weather conditions;

xi)

complaints; and

xii)

pest or vermin incidents.

PME Reference

a) Copies of all records relating to wastes

movements and product sales must be kept by the
Site Manager for at least 2 years, before archiving.

b) The Site Manager or nominated person must

maintain a record of the above information in the site
diary as required.
c) The site diary must be kept in the site control office
at all times and made available for inspection at all
reasonable times by any officer of the Competent
Agency.

3)

Format of Records
a) The terms Record, Log Book and Site Diary may
be kept as, but not limited to:

4)

i)

hand generated log;

ii)

computer generated hard copies.;

iii)

floppy disc; and/or

iv)

on an unalterable disk or similar format.

Security of Records
a) To ensure the security of records they must be
housed in either locked containers or kept in offices
that shall be locked when not attended.

5)

Archiving of Records

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Appendix A
Pre-Design Report Requirements for Authorisation

The report must describe the design parameters of the

incineration plant and must contain as a minimum details of
the following:
(i)
(ii)

(iii)
(iv)
(v)

(vi)

(vii)

(viii)

(ix)

(x)

(xi)

(xii)

Legal details for ownership of the site

An up to date plan and description of the site
and the area within 500 metres of the site that
covers:
a. all property and property boundaries,
b. all buildings, roads and utility corridors,
c. land contours, surface water drainage,
water bodies, rights-of-way and other
easements,
d. forested areas,
e. land uses and land use designations, and
f. property conditions not otherwise covered
in subclauses (a) to (e)
A plan and description of the incineration plant
and process
Details of the total waste disposal volume
A full hydrogeological assessment of the
suitability of the site that considers the
geologic and hydrogeologic conditions of the
site, the design of the site and the monitoring
and contingency plans
A detailed assessment of the potential impacts
on surface water features that may be caused
by the site or operations at the site
Detailed plans, specifications and descriptions
of the system for collecting, directing and
discharging surface water, including details of
any sediment control or other features and
including construction, quality assurance and
quality control procedures for the system
components and system installation
Detailed plans, specifications and descriptions
of monitoring facilities for air emissions,
ground water and surface water
An assessment of potential noise impacts due
to operations at the site and to local trucking
related to operations at the site, including an
evaluation of any proposed noise control
measures
An assessment of potential visual impacts on
nearby properties due to the site and site
operations
Detailed plans, specifications and descriptions
of the buffer area and ancillary facilities,
including any screening, landscaping, fencing,
weigh scales, buildings, structures, access
roads, internal roads, holding areas for cover
material, holding areas for rejected waste or
materials for recycling, and other holding
areas
Detailed plans, specifications and descriptions
of the contaminant attenuation zone, if one is
necessary

(xiii)

(xiv)

(xv)

(xvi)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Details of any facilities intended to control or

change the contaminating life span of the
incineration plant
Contingency plans that can be implemented to
control and dispose of emissions produced in
a quantity greater than expected or with a
quality worse than expected, including
specifications and descriptions in sufficient
detail to demonstrate the feasibility of the
plans
A site closure plan, including details of the
proposed end use of the site, the appearance
of the site after closure, revegetation,
landscaping, the construction of new facilities,
and the removal of existing facilities to
facilitate closure, post-closure care and site
end use
A summary of the main characteristics of the
incineration plant, including the maximum daily
quantity of waste that will be accepted for
treatment, disposal or energy recovery, the
estimated annual average quantity of waste
that will be accepted for treatment, disposal or
energy recovery, the area of the incineration
plant and land take, the total waste volume,
the estimated waste treatment or disposal
capacity in tonnes, any subcategories of waste
that are not expected to be received or that will
not be accepted for treatment or disposal, and
the estimated date of site closure.

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KSA

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Appendix B
Environmental Assessment Requirements

An environmental assessment of the site proposed for an

incineration plant is required to gain a thorough
understanding of the existing environment at the site in
order to develop a sound treatment design. This
assessment must examine the impact of the proposed
incineration plant on the air, groundwater, surface water and
noise environments, and should be based on at least two to
three years of data.

c.
d.
e.

stormwater diversion banks and/or cut-off

drains and storage dams
fire-fighting equipment and water supply
wheel washes.

If, following an environmental assessment, the site is

identified as unsuitable for an incineration plant the proposal
should not proceed any further. For the purposes of siting
an incineration plant, an environmental assessment should
contain:
(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Meteorological data, including monthly rainfall,

monthly evaporation, seasonal wind strength
and direction
Hydrogeological assessment in accordance
with
EPA
Publication
Hydrogeological
Assessments (Groundwater Quality), which
includes:
a. local and regional geology
b. spatial distribution of groundwater (local
and regional if watertable is artificially
depressed)
c. depth to groundwater (current and after
any rebound if the watertable is artificially
depressed) and watertable elevation
d. groundwater gradient and flow direction
e. description of groundwater interaction with
f. local surface waters
g. aquifer physical properties:
i. permeability
ii. aquifer thickness
iii. saturated thickness
iv. porosity.
h. aquifer chemical properties:
i. mineralogy
ii. cation exchange and sorption
capacity.
i. groundwater quality (local and regional if
aquifer is likely to have been impacted on
by previous activities)
j. beneficial uses of groundwater to be
protected
k. groundwater use in the surrounding area
l. predicted extent and degree of impacts on
groundwater quality during and after the
thermal treatment operation
m. verification that beneficial uses are not
adversely impacted at the site, or at the
boundary of an attenuation zone where
designated.
Water Management, including:
a. water balance for the site and estimated
volume of leachate to be generated
b. leachate collection, storage facilities,
treatment and disposal

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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