Thirty-five students from the fourth cohort of the Professional Diploma in Waste Management at Arabian Gulf University (AGU), representing diverse public and private sectors including industry, municipalities, academia, investment, business, economics, energy, and contracting, presented their research projects focused on key issues in sustainable waste management. These projects form part of the graduation requirements for the program.

Dr Sumaya Yousif, Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment at the College of Graduate Studies, founder and academic coordinator of the program, explained that the students’ research addressed vital topics. Among participants from the Saudi Investment and Recycling Company (SIRC) group, several projects explored marine pollution and oil spill management in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, sustainable hazardous waste management, and the feasibility of waste valorisation within Saudi Arabia, the impact of carbon certification programs on waste reduction regionally and globally, as well as hazardous medical waste management in Saudi Arabia.

Other notable projects included research by Afak Environment Company from Jeddah on the environmental and economic impacts of recycling lithium batteries; Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture on managing ghost fishing gear waste; Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) on the management of plastic waste from ventilation pipes; Hidd Power Plant, Bahrain, examining the feasibility of treating sulfur deposits from the plant's steam turbine chimneys.

A team from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology assessed the conversion of agricultural waste to energy via gasification; a student from SEPCO, Jeddah, touched on medical waste-to-energy conversion through incineration; students from the Saudi National Centre for Waste Management (Mawan) discussed awareness and capacity-building strategies to reduce municipal solid waste.

Research from Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) focused on improving oil recovery using soil washing techniques in contaminated sites; another addressed sustainable aviation fuel production from waste, economic and technical evaluations, while a participant from Veolia Abu Dhabi discussed the development of AI-based automated waste management systems. The final presentation reviewed legislation on the use of recycled demolition waste in Bahrain’s construction supply chains.

Students were assessed based on their presentations, discussions, innovative ideas, competence, confidence, and the extent of their knowledge and application, with the goal of developing and improving the work environment in the GCC region.

These valuable research efforts exemplify AGU’s commitment to advancing sustainable resource management in the region. The projects hold the potential to enrich scientific knowledge, skills, and operational efficiency, leading Gulf and Arab societies towards sustainability and innovation.

Since its launch, the Professional Diploma in Waste Management has graduated four cohorts, comprised of 91 participants from across the GCC and Arab countries in various sectors. The program is offered with flexible evening schedules, combining virtual and in-person courses, and is internationally accredited by the Chartered Institute of Waste Management.