APN has participated in a workshop on community perceptions of solid waste management and related behaviours Monday at the invitation of Oxfam in Jordan.

A study on "recycling at the Kingdom level" was presented highlighting perceptions relating to household garbage, waste and recycling, that pave the way for initiatives aiming for a more sustainable future for household solid waste. The workshop held on December 9, 2019 was attended by a number of actors, representatives of the Jordanian government, donors, international and local NGOs, and a number of civil society groups. 

In his intervention, Hassan Al-Jaajaa, APN co-founding member, stressed the importance of focusing on the use of the Arabic language in educational publications in all forms within the framework of increasing levels of environmental awareness in Jordan. He outlined the Group's experience of protecting nature with farmers, and encouraging them to recycle agricultural waste on their lands.

 Jordan produces more than two million tons of solid waste every year.  This is equivalent to about 4000 large air transport aircraft, while less than 10% of these materials are recycled. 

This means that the increasing accumulation of waste not only threatens the beautiful landscapes, but also causes pollution in local communities, public places and the agricultural sector alike. It also causes significant material losses, as material waste can be used for recycling.

It is noteworthy that Amman Municipality recently started working on a pilot project in a number of areas of the capital aimed at sorting out household waste from the source.