E-Waste Recycling Project

The E-Waste Recycling Project is a pioneering national waste management initiative launched in Amman other Jordanian cities to establish a safe and environmentally responsible system for the collection, transportation, and recycling of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste).¹ The project aims to eliminate hazardous disposal practices and mitigate the health and environmental risks posed by unmanaged e-waste.^{2 3}

The project envisions “a national model for safe and sustainable e-waste management”, aligned with international conventions and best practices, contributing to Jordan’s broader environmental protection strategy and circular economy transition.⁴
It also seeks to ensure sound environmental management of waste by promoting waste governance enhancement systems.⁵ It contributes to Jordan’s compliance with the Basel and Stockholm Conventions,⁶ and supports sustainable development through resource recovery, pollution control and behavioral change.⁷

To implement this vision, the project applies an integrated national waste governance model supported by a set of instruments:^{8 9}

• Regularity enforcement, aligned with international standards
• Public-private partnerships for collection and processing
• Digital platforms (i.e., mobile applications for coordinating operations
• Awareness campaigns promoting public engagement and safe e-waste handling

As part of its core strategy, the project has key operational components that include:¹⁰

• E-waste collection points for old light bulbs, mobile phones, computer parts, and batteries
• Certified recycling facilities for sorting and processing hazardous materials (i.e., mercury and plastics) to reduce contamination in landfills
• Smartphone app integration to connect households, collection centers, and recyclers

To achieve the goals, the project launches public awareness campaigns to shift public behavior around e-waste, promotes behavioral change through citizen engagement and public education, and supports environmental health through pollution reduction; a shift towards sustainable consumption and circular economy practices.¹¹

The project is led by the Ministry of Environment¹² in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).¹³ It is implemented in partnership with the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) in the operational phase, certified private waste management companies.
academic and research institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).¹⁴
The E-Waste Recycling, currently operational in Amman, is financially supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with a total funding of approximately $5 million provided through UNDP.¹⁵