In line with Saudi Arabias Vision for 2030, the Waste Collection and Recycling Company (WASCO), has announced the launch of Phase 2 in its waste sorting facility in Al Ahsa.
Originally planned for its official launch five years after Phase 1 of the project (inaugurated in 2017), Phase 2 has now been fully approved to supply the increasing demand for recycled materials in the Kingdom. Al-Ahsa Municipality launched the waste sorting plant project in accordance with environmental best practice requirements while adopting the latest high-tech equipment.
New technology utilised in Phase 2 of Al Ahsa includes a significant investment in Optical Sorting, the automated process of sorting solid products using near infra-red (NIR). With the capability of automatically detecting and sorting materials quickly and effectively, Optical Sorting will allow the Al Ahsa waste sorting facility to dramatically improve the recycling yield and increase overall productivity.
Commenting on the project, Eng Najib Fakih, president of WASCO, said: Phase 2 of Al Ahsa symbolises WASCOs commitment to utilise state-of-the-art waste sorting technology. Using a combination of sensor technology and software-driven intelligence, optical sorters at Al Ahsa recognise an objects’ color, size, shape, and structural properties and then compares them to pre-defined criteria to identify suitable materials to be recycled.
Eng Najib Fakih continued: As WASCO moves forward in its ambitious waste management objectives, innovations deployed in Al Ahsa Phase 2 will ensure the company maintains its positioning as the largest waste collection and sorting company in the Middle East and Africa, while continuing to expand its reach regionally. Furthermore, the WASCO team is thrilled to welcome numerous high-profile guests to its facilities in Al Ahsa to review the latest advancements in its waste sorting projects.
WASCO is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Middle East Paper Co (MEPCO), collecting over 40% of Saudi Arabias waste paper through a fleet of collection trucks in various locations and supplying 26 collection centres around the Kingdom and Middle East.