Aqaba, Aug. 27 (Petra) — The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
(ASEZA) has launched a campaign to distribute around 100,000 paper
bags free of charge to bakeries and food businesses across the city,
as part of an initiative aimed at reducing reliance on plastic bags
and promoting environmentally friendly alternatives.

The campaign, implemented in cooperation with the Aqaba Chamber of
Commerce, is part of the “Towards a Plastic-Free Aqaba” initiative.

The bags are produced locally by the Alternatives Paper Bags Factory,
which is operated by the Bayt Al-Ward Women’s Association in Aqaba
Industrial City. ASEZA supported the factory and purchased the bags
allocated for distribution to participating businesses this year,
combining the environmental campaign with support for local
production and community-based enterprises.

Taghreed Maaytah, director of ASEZA’s Environment Protection and
Sustainability Directorate, said providing the bags free of charge
during the first year is intended to encourage bakeries and food
establishments to transition to more sustainable packaging.

She said ASEZA plans to continue the initiative next year, when
participating businesses will be asked to make a nominal contribution
toward the cost of the paper bags. The approach is designed to
support the initiative’s longer-term sustainability and increase
private-sector participation in environmental protection.

In a separate environmental and community initiative, ASEZA’s Wadi
Rum Directorate launched the “Bayraq Shaddad Al-Rakayeb” program with
the participation of 30 students from the area.

The program aims to strengthen young people’s connection to Wadi
Rum’s natural environment and cultural heritage while developing the
knowledge and skills needed to contribute to conservation efforts.

Wadi Rum Director Saleh Al-Nuaimat said the initiative seeks to
strengthen students’ sense of responsibility toward their community
and deepen their connection to Wadi Rum’s identity, natural landscape
and cultural heritage.

The program includes training, awareness and practical activities
covering the local environment, Wadi Rum’s natural and cultural
heritage, the protection of its resources and the preservation of its
tourism assets.

It also seeks to strengthen cooperation among schools, the local
community and organizations working in tourism, youth development and
nature conservation, while encouraging young people to play a greater
role in protecting local ecosystems and preserving the area’s Bedouin
heritage.

//Petra// RZ