Petra gets new waste-sorting bins to enhance recycling, tourism preservation

JORDAN – Fifty waste-sorting bins have been installed across Petra as part of a nationwide program to improve waste management, expand recycling practices and reduce littering at tourism and public sites across Jordan.

The Ministry of Environment announced the initiative on 24 August 2026, with the bins distributed and installed in coordination with the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority under the executive program of the national cleanliness and anti-littering strategy.

The initiative is designed to strengthen waste management infrastructure and encourage residents, visitors and businesses to separate waste at source, helping improve the efficiency of collection, sorting and recycling. 

Strategic Waste Management and Tourism Preservation

The ministry said better infrastructure is one of the main pillars of the cleanliness strategy, alongside public awareness, monitoring and partnerships with relevant institutions. 

In Petra, the measures are intended to help preserve the area’s environmental and tourism assets while encouraging more responsible waste-disposal practices among visitors and local communities. 

The Petra initiative forms part of a scheduled nationwide program to distribute waste containers and upgrade cleanliness infrastructure across the Kingdom, with the program set to extend to forests, parks, tourism destinations and other public spaces. 

The installation of sorting bins at Petra is expected to significantly reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills from the site, while also creating opportunities for local recycling businesses to process the collected materials.

Nationwide Expansion and Environmental Protection

Implementation will be coordinated with relevant authorities according to the needs of each area. 

The ministry said it will continue expanding the program as part of efforts to raise cleanliness standards, improve waste management and strengthen environmental protection nationwide.

The Petra installation represents a significant step in integrating recycling infrastructure into Jordan’s most visited archaeological site, which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually and generates substantial waste volumes that require proper management. 

The source separation model implemented in Petra could serve as a template for other heritage sites across the Kingdom, demonstrating how tourism and environmental sustainability can work together to preserve cultural assets while promoting circular economy principles. 

The program’s expansion to forests, parks and other public spaces will further contribute to Jordan’s environmental goals and support the country’s transition to a more sustainable waste management system.

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