Ammon News - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Recycling in Jordan project on Sunday launched the first round of its "Waste Picker Training and Certification Program" which will increase the quantity of recycled items by integrating informal waste pickers into the recycling sector in Amman.

The program is the first technical training designed for waste pickers in Jordan and will benefit a total of 1,800 people. The first cohort of 60 participants will be trained over three sessions during August and September.

This program will be conducted in partnership with the Jordan Environment Society (JES). The nine training modules include technical and soft skills topics that are designed to improve the knowledge and skills of waste pickers to enable them to integrate in the recycling market.

The training includes a specific module on raising the waste pickers’ awareness on gender equality and Gender Based-Violence (GBV) in their personal life and in their work environment.

USAID’s Recycling in Jordan project deploys a market systems approach to increase commercial sector utilization of recycling services in Amman.

The project works closely with private recycling firms, the commercial sector, the Ministry of Environment, and the Greater Amman Municipality to increase business competitiveness by strengthening market linkages and improving the business enabling environment.

By transforming a largely informal network of recycling services into a competitive recycling industry, the project will contribute to sustainable solid waste management in Amman.