Extended producer responsibility (EPR) has been introduced in countries across the world in order to make manufacturers and importers of goods accountable for what happens to their products at the end of their life. Emma Trevor, Valpak’s International Account Manager, looks at how EPR has been implemented across the middle east. In the second blog of this series, she explores the current waste management situation in Jordan.
In Jordan, recycling is in the early stages of development, which means that the majority of waste unfortunately still ends life in landfill. A voluntary, industry-led packaging EPR scheme is currently being developed on a small scale in Az-Zarqa with the support of Project Tadweer and is set to be implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in the near future.
Project Tadweer, a project with the aim of implementing sustainable waste management, has adopted the three-pillar approach of education, collection, and recycling at a local level which, if successful, will then be scaled up. The project is also working with BOXS to develop a production facility to create recycled plastic boards which can then be used to improve infrastructure and to create modular homes to house refugees.
The Jordanian Government are also discussing the introduction of packaging EPR legislation. If implemented, the law would render producers obligated to have their waste packaging collected and recycled and provide evidence to this effect.
Taking another step towards sustainable waste management, the instruction issued by the Jordanian Ministry of Environment aiming to protect the environment by way of the sound management of waste electrical and electronic equipment was approved on February 16, 2021, entering into force on May 17, 2021. Items covered by this instruction include both small and household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, consumer equipment, and much more, meaning that these products will no longer be able to be disposed of in the general waste. Also introduced by the instruction, producers of WEEE must now submit reports to the ministry detailing specific information on the waste generated as well as measures they are taking to reduce this.
While Jordan may not be as far along in its journey towards a sustainable future as neighbouring Israel, it’s clear to see that important steps are being taken to improve the waste management systems which are in place.
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this weblog represent those of the individual authors and not those of Valpak Limited or any other organisation.