At IFAT Riyadh, along with our partners Sensoneo and Wastech, we proudly presented our Smart Deposit Return Scheme (SDRS) as a next-generation solution for the efficient collection of returnable packaging, demonstrating how AI-driven innovation can support Saudi Arabia’s sustainability and circular economy ambitions.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy places strong emphasis on circularity, sustainability, and modern waste management. It envisages a significant reduction in landfilling alongside increased sorting and recycling rates, supported by the active involvement of citizens. A key objective of the strategy is to provide the public with convenient and motivating infrastructure that encourages responsible waste separation and return.
Saudi Arabia is by far the largest consumer of plastic bottles in the GCC. In 2024 alone, approximately 325,000 tonnes of plastic bottles were consumed—representing around 71% of total regional (GCC) consumption. Per-capita consumption in Saudi Arabia was estimated at 8.8 kg per person in 2024, exceeding that of many other GCC countries.
Against this backdrop, the Smart Deposit Return Scheme (SDRS) is an ideal tool to support the Kingdom’s sustainability ambitions. SDRS is designed to support not only traditional deposit systems, but also a wide range of reward-based schemes that incentivise citizens to correctly sort and return packaging. The solution represents one of the fastest, most convenient, and most cost-effective automated packaging collection systems currently available.
In addition to its simplicity and versatility, SDRS is particularly well suited to local market conditions. The system is fully AI-based and does not rely on mechanical parts or motors, which can present challenges in environments characterised by high temperatures and humidity. This makes SDRS a robust and reliable solution for deployment in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
At the IFAT exhibition in Riyadh, we experienced strong interest in our solution from a wide range of stakeholders. We are now actively working on the deployment of our first pilot projects, which will help position Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in leveraging AI-driven innovation to reduce plastic waste and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
