Ramtha, Feb 11 (Petra) - A ministerial team on Wednesday discussed with a group of investors and industrial sector workers in the Al Hassan Industrial Estate ways to find solutions to the issue of excess scraps generated by textile and fabric factories.

During the meeting, participants agreed to conduct an economic feasibility study within two weeks to establish a plant for recycling scraps.

The ministerial team included Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah, Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Investment Zahir Qatarneh. The meeting was attended by Director-General of the Jordan Customs Department Major General Ahmad Al-Akalik, Acting Irbid Governor Raed Al Jaafreh, President of the Irbid Chamber of Commerce Mohammad Al Shouha, Mayor of Greater Irbid Municipality Imad Al Azzam, Mayor of Ramtha Jamal Abu Ubaid, Director General of Irbid Electricity Company Bashar Al Tamimi, and several officials and industrialists.

Masri said it is no longer permitted to dump factory waste at the Al-Akaider landfill after it reached full capacity and was converted into an environmental landfill considered among the best in the Kingdom.

He noted that the ministry will grant the industrial sector an eight-month grace period to establish a plant to recycle textile scraps to solve the problem fundamentally, explaining that turning to recycling is the only solution to protect the environmental system from the massive pressure of industrial waste.

For his part, Qudah stressed the need to find a scientific and technical solution that serves the industrial sector and maximizes benefits as an economic and development pillar, calling on investors to find a radical solution to fabric waste.

He said the government’s vision is for the project to begin as a private-sector investment and later turn into a public-private partnership, ensuring full coverage of Al-Hassan Industrial Estate's needs, creating new jobs for Jordanians, and putting an end to the problem of excess fabric scraps.

Suleiman said the government approach focuses on supporting the investment and industrial sectors that provide jobs for thousands of Jordanians, adding that the meeting aimed to resolve the factory waste recycling crisis in line with private investment interests and government policy.

He stressed the need to establish recycling mechanisms with international standards to ensure production continuity without compromising environmental safety, noting that the plant would be a strategic step toward strengthening the green economy and disposing of waste in a safe and productive manner.

Qatarneh affirmed the ministry’s readiness, in cooperation with relevant authorities, to provide all forms of facilitation for the textile waste recycling project. He said the investment environment law offers a package of incentives and exemptions for specialized recycling projects and that development zones are ready to attract such investments, enhancing sustainability, boosting the competitiveness of the garments and knitwear sector, and opening new global markets.

He added that garment factories’ move to comply with green economy and recycling requirements is an economic lever that brings direct benefits and helps solve environmental problems caused by random handling of textile waste.

Al-Akalik said factory waste recycled technically in specialized plants is exempt from customs tariffs under a Cabinet decision.

He noted that the World Customs Organization may impose stricter green economy-related standards in the future, making the current shift toward recycling indispensable for investors to cut costs and comply with international requirements.

Director General of the Jordan Industrial Estates Company (JIEC) Uday Obeidat said the company, especially in Al-Hassan Industrial City, is keen to find a radical solution to fabric waste and is fully prepared, in cooperation with industrial firms and relevant bodies, to do so.

He praised government efforts and follow-up on investors’ issues, noting that the city hosts 132 industrial companies with investments of about JD430 million, providing nearly 33,000 jobs, while its exports account for about 90 percent of Irbid Governorate’s industrial exports.

Obeidat estimated daily textile scrap output in Al-Hassan Industrial Estate at about 60 to 70 tonnes, given that it houses the Kingdom’s largest garment factories, requiring immediate treatment of waste.

President of the Irbid Chamber of Industry Hani Abu Hassan, President of the Al-Hassan Industrial Estate Society Imad Al Naddaf, and several investors outlined sector challenges, stressing that the new recycling plant would create thousands of jobs and protect the area from an environmental disaster.

They praised the government’s decision to grant factory owners a grace period to dispose of scraps at Ministry of Local Administration landfills until the recycling plant is completed, saying the flexibility reflects understanding of investors’ challenges.

They said the agreement to establish the plant is a "lifeline" to prevent a potential environmental catastrophe, create jobs in Irbid and the north, achieve environmental goals, and serve the local community.

On the sidelines of the field tour, the ministerial team and participants visited Al-Durra International factories, where ministers were briefed on the group’s role in supporting the national economy by boosting Jordan’s food exports and expanding global reach, strengthening the reputation of Jordanian industry for quality and competitiveness across continents.

//Petra// AF