Amman Municipality launches pilot project to separate organic waste at source in vegetable market

JORDAN – Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has launched the pilot operational phase of a project to separate organic waste at source at the Ras Al Ain vegetable market, marking a key step toward strengthening sustainable waste management in Amman.

According to a statement cited by Jordan News Agency Petra, the initiative forms part of the broader Solid Waste Management in Jordan program.

The project is funded by the governments of Germany and the European Union, and implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation.

The pilot program focuses on sorting organic waste generated by vegetable market activities before it reaches landfill sites.

By separating biodegradable waste such as fruit and vegetable residues at the source, authorities aim to divert large volumes of waste from dumpsites and convert it into compost through environmentally sound treatment processes.

Municipal officials say the initiative will help reduce environmental impacts associated with landfill disposal, including methane emissions and leachate contamination.

At the same time, the recovered organic waste will serve as a resource for producing organic compost that can be used in agriculture and landscaping.

Basem Hawamdeh, Director of the Environmental Studies Department at GAM, said the pilot program was preceded by extensive awareness and training campaigns targeting traders and workers at the market.

The campaigns were designed to familiarize stakeholders with sorting procedures and highlight the environmental and economic benefits of proper waste separation.

Follow-up outreach activities have also been carried out to reinforce compliance and ensure that participants understand the operational requirements.

Hawamdeh noted that the pilot phase will focus on monitoring operational efficiency, compliance rates among vendors, and the quality of separated organic waste.

Authorities will also address any logistical or operational challenges identified during the initial rollout.

“The objective is to refine the operational model before expanding the initiative to additional markets managed by GAM,” he said.

If successful, the project will be gradually extended to other municipal markets across Amman using the same design and operational framework.

Officials believe that scaling up organic waste separation could significantly reduce the volume of municipal waste sent to landfills while creating new opportunities for resource recovery.

The initiative reflects a broader regional shift toward integrated waste management systems that prioritize waste reduction, recycling, and circular economy practices.

Cities across the Middle East are increasingly adopting organic waste diversion programs as part of their sustainability strategies, recognizing the potential of food and market waste to be transformed into valuable agricultural inputs while reducing environmental pressures on landfill infrastructure.

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