GIZ: Jordan EPR

Background

Jordan has undergone intensive economic development and constant population growth in recent decades. This has resulted, among other things, in increasing packaging waste and associated environmental issues. With the technical support of the German consultancy cyclos GmbH, the Jordanian government has prepared a legal framework including instructions on packaging materials, which will serve as the foundation for introducing an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system for packaging waste. The application of the instructions ensures the long-term financing of a recycling collection and recovery system for packaging. The system shall be organised by the private sector and financed by industry, for this reason the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) will be hosted by the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) in which a specialized unit within the JCI will be established for registering private companies into the EPR system, collecting fees from industries producing packaging materials and financing the recycling industries in Jordan. The Ministry of Environment is committed to working in close cooperation with the Jordan Chamber of Industry to ensure that the PRO operates successfully and spends the fees collected on improving the recycling environment of packaging materials in Jordan.

Aim of the cooperation

The objective was to support the development of an EPR system by adapting and creating institutional and operational frameworks. The module makes a direct contribution to the Sustainable Development Goal on the development of sustainable cities and settlements (SDG 11), in particular target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management”.

What we do

• Legal framework: In cooperation with international experts from the cyclos GmbH, a legal framework including instructions of packaging materials was introduced to the Ministry of Environment, the Jordan Chamber of Industry, and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce. The final version of the instructions was agreed upon between the three key stakeholders and is approved by the Higher Steering Committee for Waste Management. The approved instructions are currently with the Prime Ministry pending endorsement.
• Administrative framework: We supported the Jordan Chamber of Industry in developing a Producer Responsibility Organization that will implement the EPR system, taking into account the definition of responsibilities to take over its statutory tasks by building up the necessary operational and administrative capacities.
• Policy advice: We supported the Jordanian Ministry of Environment in building the necessary institutional and human resource capacities to implement its tasks as the central supervisory authority for the registration and oversight of the EPR system.
• Pilot projects: Together with our partners, we were developing pilot projects for separate collection systems for packaging materials in Jordan. One pilot project was implemented in Petra in cooperation with Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA). Another pilot project was implemented in the capital city Amman.
• Knowledge management: We processed the results and experiences of the pilot project and actively introduced them to relevant stakeholders in our partner countries.

Key results

• In August 2020, under Article (7), paragraph (c) of the Framework Law on Waste Management No. 16 of 2020, the Jordanian Ministry of Environment introduced the notion of the EPR system in this general waste regulation. Specific EPR legislation is being developed by the Ministry of Environment including EPR Instructions for Packaging Waste.
• The detailed EPR regulations developed in cooperation with cyclos GmbH were approved by the ministerial Higher Steering Committee for Waste Management. Waiting for Cabinet approval.
• The development of a registration system for producers and importers of packaging material has been contracted and will be developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and the Chamber of Industry.
• The company that will introduce The Fortunate Planet App for the collecting and managing of packaging waste has been contracted.
• Four electric collection vehicles and trolleys have been purchased and handed over to the Great Amman Municipality (GAM).
• A grant agreement for separate collection has been prepared with Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) for introducing separate collection for PET bottles.
• A packaging market analysis has been carried out by Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung (GVM) which serves as a baseline for the implementation of the EPR System.