Plastics Country Situation Report: Jordan

Jordan is a small country in the Middle East with a population of around 10 million people. The plastic industry in Jordan is relatively small, has limited domestic production capabilities, and the majority of plastic products in Jordan are imported.

Plastics Sourcing:

Jordan does not have a petrochemical industry, and therefore, the raw materials used in its plastic industry are imported from neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

Plastic Production:

Jordan has small-scale plastics production facilities, but the industry is not well developed, and the country relies heavily on imported plastic products.

Plastics Use:

The packaging industry is the largest consumer of plastic products in Jordan, accounting for over 60% of the total demand. Other industries that use plastic products in Jordan include construction, automotive, and household products.

Plastics Disposal:

Jordan faces significant challenges with plastic waste disposal due to its limited infrastructure and resources for waste management. Most plastic waste in Jordan is either landfilled, burned, or dumped in open spaces. This can have severe environmental and health consequences, including soil and water pollution, air pollution, and respiratory problems.

Waste Trade:

Jordan is a signatory to the Basel Convention, which regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous waste. However, there have been reports of illegal waste trade in Jordan, including the import of plastic waste from other countries. For example, in 2018, it was reported that Jordan had received 1,500 tons of plastic waste from Italy, which was falsely labeled as "recyclable."

Special thanks to IPEN's Middle East & North Africa Regional Coordinator, Semia Gharbi, and the Regional Hub, and the lead organization developing this report, (AYADI) Hands for Environment and Sustainable Development, for their important contributions to the development and finalization of the project.