Amman, Jan 5 (Petra) - A coordination meeting bringing together journalists and stakeholders in environmental affairs on Monday discussed the pillars of the executive program for the National Strategy for Cleanliness and Reducing Random Littering in the presence of Minister of Government Communication and government spokesperson Mohammad Momani and Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman.

The environment minister said the ministry is working on preparing a national strategy to address challenges related to public cleanliness, foremost among them random littering, across all governorates, in line with the concepts of environmental sustainability and integrated waste management.

He added that the strategy is based on strengthening partnership with the private sector in waste collection and transport, drawing on the experience of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, which has achieved success in improving the efficiency of environmental services and reducing the environmental impact of waste.

Suleiman noted that the executive program will include intensifying public cleanliness efforts in cities and villages, recreational areas, archaeological sites, forests, and agricultural and forested lands, indicating that agreement has been reached with the Ministry of Education to be a partner in implementing the program by enhancing environmental awareness among students and entrenching positive environmental behavior.

He explained that the scope of application of the memorandum of understanding signed with the Ministry of Justice will be expanded to supervise the implementation of alternatives to custodial sentences through cleanliness improvement programs at various sites, in addition to installing 300 mobile cameras to monitor violations, including 50 cameras within the capital and 250 cameras in the governorates, and launching an electronic system to automate violations and link them to handheld devices.

For his part, Minister of Government Communication Dr. Mohammad Momani affirmed the government’s keenness to implement the executive program to reduce random littering in parallel with launching a national media campaign aimed at addressing improper behaviors related to waste disposal.

He said the government is keen to conduct dialogue with journalists and concerned partners in environmental affairs to produce recommendations that contribute to implementing media campaigns in a manner that achieves their objectives, stressing that the executive program is a national program that requires the concerted efforts of all levels.

Momani explained that the program includes four main phases, beginning with the launch of a national awareness and education campaign, improving and sustaining cleanliness in public places, and strengthening monitoring and law enforcement, in addition to monitoring violations from vehicles and at recreational sites, tourist areas, and public facilities, and developing infrastructure by providing areas with containers of different sizes and improving transport and collection operations in partnership with all relevant ministries.

Momani stressed that the program falls within the Economic Modernization Vision in terms of improving quality of life and consolidating Jordan’s position as a tourist destination, pointing to the expected positive impact on public health, protection of environmental components, and reduction of waste management costs.

//Petra// AF