Averda and KAUST renew waste management partnership till 2025
The new 10-year contract with KAUST will support the university’s zero-waste-to-landfill target even further
End-to-end waste management and recycling company Averda and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have signed a new contract for a waste management facility and services, which will provide sustainable waste management solutions for the university, with zero-waste goals projected by 2025.
As per the terms of the contract, Averda will manage all aspects of solid and hazardous waste including recycling, sorting, waste transfer and disposal. Since 2015, the waste management firm has worked with KAUST to design and deliver an integrated waste management service for its campus facilities and residential neighbourhoods that matches the needs and sustainable goals of the university.
During this time, over 3,500t of waste has been recycled, including 1,332t of cardboard, 227t of paper, 357t of plastics, 614t of metals and 243,000l of different types of oil.
In November 2021, Averda won a new contract for waste management services at The Red Sea Development.
The new 10-year contract with KAUST will support the university’s zero-waste-to-landfill target even further, recycling and recovering 100% of unavoidable municipal waste by-products with a one-stop, integrated materials recovery facility (MRF) and streamlined processes for collecting, sorting and bundling waste.
The arrangement will be further strengthened by the introduction of an all-electric fleet of Averda waste collection vehicles (previously diesel). In addition to energy savings, the use of electric vehicles will eliminate emissions, minimise noise, and reduce maintenance, among other benefits.
KAUST Vice President of Facilities Management Matthew Early said: “KAUST is proud to continue our relationship with Averda in this transformational zero-waste journey. The overall endeavour of waste management — from the facility where the waste will be sorted into various recycling streams, to the all-electric collection fleet — will allow KAUST to meet its goal of zero-waste by 2025 and elevate KSA’s quest for environmental sustainability by preserving the environment and contributing to improving quality of life.”
In December 2021, Averda won contracts to provide services for two events in Saudi Arabia.
The new bespoke facility, designed to complement KAUST’s contemporary campus, will include an administrative space, depot and parking for vehicles, and storage for containers and other operating equipment. Averda’s specialised waste collection services across the KAUST campus and five residential areas will ensure the correct collection and handling of each waste type. Recyclable material will be sorted and sold to the market, and organic material will be composted by KAUST’s composting facility.
More than 7,000 KAUST residents will play an important role in separating recyclables at the source. To this end, KAUST and Averda are developing an environmental awareness campaign for residents to ensure total participation in the zero-waste effort, the statement added.
The use of information technology to record, monitor, analyse and report waste management data will be a vital component to support this program and ensure that KAUST meets its sustainability targets. Technological provisions will be made to collect data at granular level, including bin management, dynamic weighing system, fleet tracking and management. A sustainability plan for operations will track and measure progress against targets to maximise emission reductions and keep KAUST fully informed of the environmental footprint of the activities and services delivered by Averda both on and off site.
In March 2022, Averda said it won a contract to provide waste services at the Saudi F1 Grand Prix.
Averda Chief Growth Officer Mazen Chebaklo concluded: “Sustainable practices are an integral part of KAUST’s campus. For over a decade, Averda has provided KAUST with an exemplary sustainable waste management service, that has evolved with the growth and feedback of the community. We are delighted to help KAUST on the next stage of their sustainability journey, as they commit to reduce emissions and achieve zero waste to landfill. KAUST is a clear leader in the implementation of circular economy principles. We are proud to support an institution that continually strives to improve the sustainability of their operations.
