Amman, Jan. 11 (Petra) -- The government on Sunday launched the 2026-2027 executive program for the National Cleanliness and Anti-Indiscriminate Waste Dumping Strategy, as part of a comprehensive national commitment to protect public health and the environment, improve cleanliness conditions across Jordan, and promote responsible environmental behavior.

The program was launched during a meeting at the Prime Ministry attended by the ministers of local administration, government communication, Awqaf (endowments), Islamic affairs, and holy sites, environment, and tourism and antiquities, alongside the Amman mayor and the director of the Royal Environmental Protection Administration, with participation from a group of media professionals and environmental affairs journalists.

The meeting was part of the government’s periodic briefings to inform the media about its programs and strategic plans.

The executive program is built on 4 main pillars aimed at addressing illegal dumping through an integrated package of regulatory, technical, oversight, and awareness measures. The program was designed based on a field-based assessment of challenges and needs across different areas, in line with a whole-of-government approach that integrates environmental and development policies, embeds sustainability, improves quality of life, reduces waste management costs, stimulates the circular economy, and strengthens Jordan’s position as a clean and safe tourism destination.

Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman, head of the steering committee for curbing indiscriminate waste dumping, said the program responds to escalating environmental challenges linked to the phenomenon and the high financial costs of waste collection, transport, and final disposal. He also cited its negative impacts on the environment and public health, pollution of soil and groundwater and surface water, and harm to plant and animal resources.

He said the program aims to deliver a qualitative shift in public cleanliness by improving waste management in streets, squares, and public areas, as well as forested and natural areas and tourist and archaeological sites. He added that national campaign objectives include awareness and education, stronger oversight and law enforcement, public health protection, and lowering waste management costs.

Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri said the program includes a comprehensive plan to improve cleanliness in governorates and municipalities, including collecting and transporting waste from forest recreation areas, tourist and archaeological sites, and main roads outside municipal boundaries.

He said the plan also calls for a phased upgrade of waste management infrastructure by increasing the number of containers and distributing them more equitably based on population density and usage patterns, and by modernizing collection and transport through a modern, efficient fleet.

Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Momani outlined the media component accompanying the program, which aims to strengthen a culture of individual and collective responsibility, link cleanliness to ethical, religious, and cultural values, and highlight the economic and tourism impacts of random dumping, with the goal of achieving measurable and sustained behavioral change.

He cited remarks by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II during his chairing of a preparatory committee meeting, stressing that caring for the cleanliness of public places is a religious and moral duty and a key factor in supporting vital economic sectors, foremost tourism. He said the Crown Prince emphasized that Jordanians deserve to live in a clean environment that reflects Jordan’s civilized image.

Minister of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Sites Mohammad Khalaileh stressed the role of mosques and places of worship in reinforcing the religious and moral dimension of maintaining public cleanliness, curbing random dumping, and strengthening community awareness in line with the established values of Islam and the heavenly religions.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin said the program will help preserve the cleanliness and aesthetics of tourist and archaeological sites, reflecting the bright historical image of these destinations visited by tourists from around the world.

Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh referred to measures to improve cleanliness in the capital, including a phased handover of cleanliness services and waste collection and transport to private-sector service providers, alongside strengthening infrastructure within the capital.

Director of the Royal Department for Environment and Tourism Protection Brigadier Tambi Hamkari presented statistics on environmental violations, confirming intensified monitoring and patrols in parks, tourist sites, and public facilities, especially during holidays and weekends.

During the meeting, ministers heard observations from media representatives and journalists on the program’s importance and implementation mechanisms.

Participants stressed the need to put an end to the phenomenon, warning it could project a negative image of society and of tourist and archaeological locations frequented by visitors from outside the Kingdom.

They also underscored the importance of involving media outlets in all related activities to support public awareness and education and help achieve the stated goal of eliminating random dumping.

The executive program was approved by the Cabinet, and a ministerial committee was formed under the chairmanship of the Minister of Environment, with the membership of a number of relevant ministers, in addition to Amman mayor and the director of the Public Security Directorate. The committee will oversee implementation, submit periodic reports to the Cabinet, track performance indicators, and assess environmental and behavioral impact to ensure effective and sustainable results.

//Petra// AO