Amman, June 7 (Petra) – Minister of Local Administration, Walid
Masri, and Minister of Environment, Dr. Ayman Suleiman, on Sunday
discussed ways and mechanisms to develop the Kingdom’s solid waste
management sector and enhance partnerships with the private sector to
advance this “vital” industry, both environmentally and economically.

During the meeting, held at the Ministry of Local Administration, the
duo reviewed the plan to privatize and develop the sector nationwide,
based on the highest technical and environmental standards.

The meeting featured a discussion of the plan’s key implementation
aspects and the procedures taken to privatize the sector in the
Kingdom’s Northern Region by preparing blanket terms of reference for
a comprehensive economic, technical, and environmental feasibility
study, based on the “zero waste” principle.

Regarding Jordan’s Central Region, the presentation focused on
completing the tender document for the construction and operation of
Dhulail transfer station and operation of the Azraq landfill.

The new sanitary landfill is being prepared to be officially tendered
in the coming period.

As for the Southern Region, it was announced that procedures are
underway to secure the necessary funding from the Green Climate Fund
(GCF) through Cities and Villages Development Bank, which is
accredited by the fund.

On its goals, this funding aims to develop infrastructure by shutting
down and rehabilitating the region’s landfills and converting these
sites into engineered sanitary dumps.

This process will be carried out, in coordination and cooperation
with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority to close and
rehabilitate the existing Aqaba landfill and establish a completely
new, alternative sanitary site for this purpose.

Accoring to a joint statement, the meeting also went over an
investment proposal submitted by investors from regional countries
interested in investing in the solid waste management sector within
the Kingdom.

Concerning the government’s ongoing efforts to support the
cleanliness strategy and reduce the phenomenon of indiscriminate
waste dumping, the discussions highlighted the ongoing coordination
and talks with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation
to hold a broad meeting with embassies and international donor
agencies to support this national strategy.

//Petra// AG