The University, represented by the College of Engineering, is preparing to host the First International Conference on Sustainability of Natural Resources: Sustainable Solid Waste Management, during the period from 8-9 Rabi' I, 1441 A.H., in cooperation with the Center for Sustainable Development, to discuss ways to contribute to the preparation of a vision on sustainable solid waste management at the national and international levels, through the participation of a number of experts, academics and specialists in this field, while discussing the results of the latest studies, research and scientific papers related to sustainable solid waste management. 

The conference also aims to show the size of wasted natural and economic resources and estimate the environmental cost of waste, as well as discuss the necessary measures to shift to sustainable food systems in which waste is reduced and food waste is minimized, in addition to stimulating integration between partners from different disciplines to manage waste in a sustainable manner, study opportunities to stimulate investment in the field of developing waste recycling technologies in the Kingdom, and study the obstacles to investment in waste processing industries, through several themes discussed by the conference, namely: Responsible Citizen and Valued Food, Attractive Investment, Resource Recovery, Integrated Solid Waste Management, and Environmental Protection.

Participants in the conference seek to reduce the per capita consumption rates in Saudi Arabia for some goods and services, which are among the highest rates globally, increasing the volume of solid waste generated, reducing the depletion and degradation of natural resources due to high consumption rates, transferring and localizing modern international technologies in the field of waste management in accordance with the Kingdom's conditions, addressing the challenges resulting from waste, which is the responsibility of every member of society, raising community awareness of the risks resulting from waste generation, encouraging initiatives aimed at improving sustainable waste management, and providing opportunities for waste management.

For his part, Prof. Dr. Khalid bin Bani Al-Harbi, Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee and Vice President for Planning, Development and Quality at Qassim University, explained that this conference comes at a time when sustainability has become a basic requirement to maintain development in societies to achieve a decent life for its members and ensure the process of development and prosperity as civilized societies, indicating that the conference will shed light on sustainable solid waste management, which in turn ensures a sustainable return and reduces waste in natural resources to become economically productive, environmentally beneficial, and meet the actual needs.

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee pointed out that the university has sensed the importance of sustainability and its various factors, especially the developmental ones, to put it among its priorities, but a basic building block of its vision and mission that it strives to achieve. From this perspective, the Faculty of Engineering at the university attaches great importance to these topics due to its specialized nature that would be one of the most important arms of the university to achieve this noble purpose alongside the relevant specialized bodies from other colleges and units, most importantly the Center for Sustainable Development at the university, as a partner in organizing and incubating the conference with the college in establishing this qualitative international forum. 

The head of the conference's organizing committee stressed that the university could only play this role in light of the strategic directions that our wise government attaches great importance to, which has a positive impact on raising the quality of life and enhancing the economic aspects, which is one of the pillars of our Kingdom's vision, through which we elevate it to the ranks of developed countries and advanced societies, explaining that the university in turn is working to overcome all obstacles and harness all capabilities for this qualitative conference, whose recommendations we hope will contribute to advancing sustainable management in general, and solid waste in particular, to achieve the sustainability of our natural resources.