Amman: The Ministry of Environment has sent SMS warnings to citizens as part of its enforcement of the 2020 Waste Management Framework Law (No. 16), which prohibits the random dumping of waste in public areas, including streets, parks, tourist sites, religious landmarks, and government facilities. The ministry affirmed it would continue inspection and awareness campaigns to ensure compliance.
According to Jordan News Agency, the move aligns with the ministry's ongoing efforts in coordination with the Royal Department for Environmental Protection to safeguard the environment, reduce visual and health pollution, and promote public awareness, particularly during Eid al-Fitr and the peak outdoor recreation season. In a statement on Saturday, the ministry stressed that environmental protection is a shared responsibility, urging public cooperation to curb violations that harm public health and quality of life. It encouraged citizens to report infractions through official channels to support enforcement.
Authorities have begun implementing the law by detaining violators and referring them for legal action. Penalties under the law include fines ranging from JD50 to JD1,000 and up to one month imprisonment for repeat offenders or violations in protected areas. The SMS alerts outlined specific fines: JD50-JD500 for littering, dumping wastewater, or dumping construction debris in public spaces (doubled for repeat offenses); JD100-JD1,000; or imprisonment up to a month or both for violations in nature reserves and national parks.
The ministry noted collaboration with civil and official entities in cleanup and awareness drives to foster environmental responsibility.