UNDP, EU Launch Agricultural Plastic Recycling Plant in Jordan
The United Nations Development Programme in Jordan (UNDP), through funding from the European Union (EU) and in partnership with the Municipality of Deir Alla, has launched a new state-of-the-art plastic recycling plant in the heart of the Jordan Valley. This $1.2 million initiative aims to strengthen solid waste management systems and promote a circular economy model that addresses the region’s environmental challenges while creating over 50 green jobs and stimulating economic growth across the waste management sector and beyond.
Built on a 5,000 sq m plot, the facility is designed to tackle the growing issue of plastic waste in the region. The modern plant is strategically located to serve the seven municipalities of Deir Alla, Sharhabeel Bin Hasnah, Muath bin Jabal, Swemeh, Southern Shuna, Tabqet Fahel, and Al-M’adi in the Jordan Valley.
Funded under the Decentralization, Accountability and Integrity at the Local Level (DAILL) programme, with support from the EU, the new recycling hub represents one of the key initiatives of Jordan’s national driver for green growth under its Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV).
Commending the strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Interior, the UNDP, and the EU in supporting strategic local development initiatives across Jordan, Mazin Al-Farrayeh, Jordan’s Interior Minister emphasises, “The new Deir Alla agricultural plastic recycling plant marks a significant step towards building a sustainable and profitable model for plastic waste management in the Jordan Valley. By establishing a local market for recycled materials, the facility is expected to generate job opportunities, strengthen private sector engagement, and promote innovation in plastic reuse and processing.”
Minister Al-Farrayeh also highlighted the essential role of municipalities in raising awareness around responsible waste sorting and ensuring effective delivery of plastic waste to the plant. He went on to reaffirm the Ministry’s commitment to enabling integrated, community-driven development solutions that enhance livelihoods and support Jordan’s green economy goals.
“This facility is a model example of how we can align local governance with capital investment logic,” says Randa Aboul-Hosn, UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan. “Our goal is to empower municipalities to become enablers of investment and sustainable development – not just service providers.”
The Deir Alla agricultural plastic recycling plant, with a built area of over 1,400 sq m, comprises several integrated components, including a main operations hanger, a covered canopy area for material handling, and a dedicated storage facility for raw and processed plastic materials. These components are optimised to support the sorting, cleaning, and transformation of plastic waste into reusable raw materials, diverting waste from landfills and reducing environmental harm.
European Union Ambassador to Jordan Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas says, “Jordan can count on the EU as it is intensifying efforts to improve waste management, and reduce the impact of plastic pollution. Here in the Jordan Valley, this effort will improve agricultural productivity and the recycling plant will contribute to local development through job creation.”
The project also sets the stage for a future public-private partnership, offering investment opportunities for the private sector to operate the facility sustainably and to procure sorted plastic waste for further processing and resale. Notably, local farms will also benefit, as the facility provides a formal outlet to consign plastic waste – turning an environmental hazard into economic opportunity, with the market value of recycled plastic currently ranging between 120 and 250 Jordanian dinars per tonne, depending on type and quality.
The success of this project is anchored in local ownership. The Deir Alla Municipality provided the land for the facility, while local community-based organisations (CBOs) have actively contributed to community engagement efforts. Women play a pivotal role in these efforts, particularly in the area of solid waste management, contributing to both environmental sustainability and inclusive economic empowerment.
