How and where to recycle in Amman

Posted on by Chelsea Jimenez Juneidi

Updated in late 2024.

The lack of municipal recycling services in Jordan means that your most convenient disposal option is in a big metal dumpster on the street corner. No, there are not multiple bins to segregate trash and have it picked up by different garbage trucks. It all goes in the same metal dumpster (except for the plastic bags of bread hanging on the side). This just didn’t sit well with me so I was determined to find a way to recycle the majority of our household waste, even if it meant it wasn’t as convenient. Here are the places I’ve discovered in Amman where you can bring your dry waste recycling and organic wet waste (food scraps) :

BE Environmental Services بيئي

BE Environmental Services (BE) was founded in 2008 with the “aim to reduce the impact of waste on the environment and to maximize its resource value to the benefit of the Jordanian economy and population”.  They have 2 domestic recycling centers open to the public where you can bring your recyclables 7 days a week:

Locations:

1. Cozmo Recycling Centre, Cozmo 7th Circle (map)

2. City Mall Green Centre, Dabouq (map)
cozmo recycling center ammanThey accept the following CLEAN and DRY items for recycling:

  • Any type of paper and cardboard

  • Any type of metals

  • Plastic bottles

  • Plastic bags

  • Plastic containers (cleaned from food residual)

  • Used cooking oil

  • Old bread

Click to see the full list here: Recyclable list in Jordan 2024

FYI – they do not accept glass because there are no glass recycling plants in Jordan bins recycling center in amman

To find out more you can contact them through their website be.jo.

Organica Jordan

organicajo amman composting

Organica Jordan is a compost and vermi farm located in Amman that accepts green waste (food scraps). They also sell composting bins and vermi compost. If you want to compost at home, find out how to do it here.

Location: Airport Road next to Luminus University. Contact them for exact address.

Contact: 079764006 / @organicajordan

Green Spot

green spot recycling amman

Green Spot offers paid recycling services (paper, cardboard, paper shredding, metal recycling, waste management, etc.). They also manufacture and sell recycling bins, shopping bags, and other eco-products.

IKEA

ikea amman

Have a lot of paper and cardboard stockpiled? Did you know you can bring it to IKEA’s recycling center? Read more about IKEA’s go green local initiatives here.

T Bottle

t bottle upcycled bottle artwork amman

T Bottle turns glass bottles into pieces of art. Find out how to donate your used glass bottles here.

Do you know other places in Amman to recycle? Let me know in the comments below…

44 thoughts on “How and where to recycle in Amman”

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      1. Just some info to be added
        Tap water in Jordan to be considered one of top ten or twenty drinkable water in the world according to specialists.
        Paper and metal recycling in Jordan back for so many centuries, we just don’t talk that much ,
        ask to find answers

        Liked by 1 person

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  7. Hi there I am going hiking next month in Jordan (Mar 2018)I am trying ta zero waste impact (and of course drinking water and zero waste packaging play a large part in this)
    1. I read your post about drinking water in Amman – what about Dana-Petra?
    2. I am going to carry my trash but also is there any chance it will be recycled – or just dump it in the next place I stay?
    Any other tips.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi there @desert hiker
      Wow this sounds like an awesome trip. I would love to write an article about how your experience was afterwards. Let me know if you’re interested.
      I recommend getting one of these bottles with a filter in them, that was you can be sure you are on the safe side and don’t have to buy plastic bottles.
      I don’t think you have any chance of finding places along the way to recycle your trash… I have only seen a few places in Amman that recycle and I doubt you want to carry your trash the whole hike and then back with you to Amman…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Many thanks your reply! Yes I would love to give you details on my hiking experiences. I have a number of hiking bottles but your point about a filter is a great one. Also I am hoping that I can at least ensure any picnic waste is dropped off at the next lodging (and if I happen to see any litter on the way to pick it up as well!) At very least we keep the beautiful countryside pristine for those that follow.

        Liked by 1 person

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    1. Hi Diana – if it’s not open when you go, there is a drop box where you can place your items in so you don’t have to worry too much about opening hours.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. cozmo recycling center is not a recycling center. they do not recycle what you give them. they dump it as trash, because this way it is cheaper for them. i was very disappointed upon mu arrival there.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
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  14. Hi there,
    Im very interested in recycling and have plannned to go eco friendly on a more active approcah from now on .
    ESP sounds great but sad to hear they are not being funded, i used to drop my recyclable waste at cosmo but sometimes i ‘d just categorize the waste and put next to the bin near home due to being lazy to go to cozmo go green.
    I asked many times why there aren’t the recycling bins but the response was frustrating..
    Regardless, i am intersted in learning more about recycling composting in jordan …
    Thanks in advance .

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Razan. Glad to hear you’ll be trying to be more eco friendly! It’s a step by step process and every little bit counts. I am also sad to hear ESP stopped operating 😦 They do still work with businesses though as far as I know. I hope you can start making the trip to Cozmo still as I think putting waste outside the bin isn’t very productive. Also, how about trying composting for organic waste?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Composting is within the plan ,
        I do mini composting at home sometimes but as i said i do it all right until it comes to the trip to drop off is where i go lazy 😬🙈😢 i wish we were like other contries where recycling is more convenient …

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes, recycling isn’t convenient in Amman, it’s true. But for me it’s one of the most important things for me, so I don’t mind the extra effort. And it also makes me second guess every purchase when I know I’ll have to store the garbage until I can bring it to Cozmo! And I stopped buying glass, as it’s not recycled anywhere.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Thanks i’ll keep those tips in mind …
        I’ll be keeping reauable bags in the car and mesh ones for the fruits and veggie shopping 😅
        I planning on making the cozmo trip twice a month and im looking into home composting methods coz i like to have natural fertilizer for my plants on the balcony …
        Any other you tips you would recomment …
        Many Thanks

        Liked by 1 person

    2. For composting I recommend checking out my post on how to start composting. You can also visit Nour al Barakah for some help as they compost there.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  15. Hey Chelsea! is there any recycling company that i can arrange with them a monthly visit to our office so they can take our paper,cardboard,etc. for recycling?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Hi Chelseas, very nice topic and blog! I’ve recently started waste paper recycling in Amman, please have a look at it:

    Website: https://greenspotjo.com
    FB: https://facebook.com/greenspotjo
    I’ve also initiated a campaign called “Green Spots Map” it’s a grey map of jordan, and when someone new join the recycling of waste paper, I mark their location with a green Bin. People will sort the waste paper and I will help them in shipping it to the recycling facility.
    The Green Spots Map Link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1a9ACG3h26lqgZRPqpgGT7fXRdBqVSJz0&usp=sharing

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. Hi
    I have a plan to recycle the wheels and water bottles by agriculture it in garden and also I have a volunteery team
    What’s I need? I need advices, ideas can I use it in the real field and some one lead us to that in proper way
    Can you help us.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
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