A draft waste management law has been approved by Saudi Arabia’s shura council. It includes penalties for waste disposal violations including a maximum 10 years of imprisonment or $7.9m in fines or both.

According to a report by the Saudi Gazette, the draft law consists of 38 articles aimed to regulate the activities of waste collection, transportation, sorting, storage, import, export, treatment, safe disposal and aftercare of waste disposal sites.

Article three of the law prohibits the practice of any activity related to waste management without obtaining a license or permit from the National Waste Management Center, the report explained.

Offenses include storing, burning, treating, or disposing of waste in any way that poses a danger to public health or damage to environment.