Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Ministry of Justice said on Saturday that its “paperless courts” project across the Kingdom is meant to contribute to reducing paper waste and saving the environment.

The ministry has launched the “paperless” courts initiative early last 2017 to digitally connect courts, re-direct the majority of the procedures online, eliminate almost 90 percent of paperwork and save time and efforts for clients.

“We have emphasized the importance of paperless courts in terms of increasing efficiency, digitizing our services and all," said Majid Al-Khamis, head of corporate communications at the ministry.

“But what is also important to us, and what we see as valuable in this project is its positive impact on the environment," he added.

“This ambitious initiative will contribute to paper waste reduction, help protect the environment, and support the Kingdom’s future plans for waste management and transforming waste into clean energy projects," Al-Khamis said.

According to published research by the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection (GAMEP), Saudi Arabia generates over 15 million tons of solid waste each year, and paper waste is the second largest type of solid waste after organic waste, making around 29 percent of the total solid waste.

Keeping those numbers in mind, the ministry realized how much it can make a difference and it rolled out this initiative and extended it to most of the Kingdom's courts to help reduce the use of paper.