Barriers to Digitalising Circular Economy Practices in Municipal Waste Management: A Comparative Study of Saudi Arabia and Global Trends

• B. Al-Jabri Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7226-9782
• M. Alkahtani Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7343-9098

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/37-1-3277

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) enables revolutionary waste management of municipal solid waste (MSW) through various technologies, including IoT, AI, and blockchain. The technologies allow real-time monitoring, predictive analysis, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced traceability to implement effective and sustainable CE practices in urban waste systems. Implementing digital supply chain technologies in CE practices encounters complex barriers that prevent adoption. This study systematically examines the barriers preventing the adoption of digital supply chain technology for CE strategies in municipal solid waste management (MSWM) globally, with a focus on Saudi Arabia. The analysis of 58 peer-reviewed studies through qualitative content analysis reveals seven main categories of barriers: technological, legal, financial, data-related, regulatory, institutional, and behavioural.

The analysis shows that Saudi municipalities face unique difficulties because of their fragmented infrastructure, limited public engagement, underdeveloped regulatory frameworks, and insufficient legal protections. An analysis of the local literature demonstrates that insufficient attention to digital skills development and data governance problems creates additional obstacles to implementation. The research shows that successful implementation requires regulatory bodies to work with digital infrastructure developers to engage the public and to establish sustained support for smart technology systems. The study uses its findings to develop policy recommendations to help Saudi municipalities to implement digital CE practices. The recommendations aim to support Vision 2030’s national objectives while participating in worldwide discussions about sustainable digital waste management systems.