Jerash, May 7 (Petra) – The head of the Greater Jerash Municipality Committee, Mohammad Bani Yassin, met on Thursday with a delegation from the European Union, including experts from Spain, Portugal, Egypt, and Jordan, as well as officials from the Ministry of Local Administration and relevant municipal departments, to discuss solid waste management challenges and ways to enhance operational efficiency.

The meeting focused on the solid waste management sector in Jerash Municipality, addressing operational and environmental challenges, and exploring mechanisms to improve and upgrade service delivery systems.

Bani Yassin said the solid waste management file in Jerash faces complex and interlinked challenges due to the municipality’s large geographical area, increasing population density, and rising pressure on services driven by tourism and agricultural activities, which require strengthened capacity and improved operational readiness.

He noted that key challenges include shortages in manpower, vehicles, and equipment, in addition to the aging and obsolescence of existing machinery, which negatively affect the efficiency of waste collection and transport operations and increase operational pressures.

He explained that waste is transported to a sorting station located approximately 90 kilometers away, which places a significant operational burden on compactor vehicles, increases fuel consumption and maintenance costs, and extends the duration of daily transport operations.

Bani Yassin added that waste volumes increase significantly during holidays and major events, particularly during the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts, due to heightened commercial activity and increased visitor numbers, which places additional pressure on municipal services and requires heightened preparedness.

He pointed out that agricultural areas, which constitute around 33 percent of the municipality’s jurisdiction, add further challenges to service delivery, necessitating a balance between environmental protection and efficient municipal services to ensure the sustainability of the urban and agricultural landscape.

He also highlighted additional seasonal pressures during the summer months, including the spread of dry vegetation and increased risk of fires in open and forested areas, which require intensified municipal efforts in cleaning, vegetation removal, and preventive measures to safeguard public safety.

For its part, the European Union delegation stressed the importance of supporting solid waste management systems and expressed readiness to provide technical and technological assistance aimed at improving efficiency and service quality.

The delegation also conducted a field visit to the sorting station to review its operational mechanisms, assess technical and logistical challenges, and observe the waste management system’s performance on the ground.

//Petra// AJ