According to the World Bank, global municipal solid waste generation stood at 2.1 billion tons in 2017 and is expected to rise to 3.4 billion tons by 2050. As highlighted by a study from the Jordan University of Science and Technology, developing solid waste policies is essential, but insufficient unless accompanied by proper funding and well-trained personnel to implement them. Balancing service expansion with financial sustainability remains a major obstacle for municipalities worldwide.

Safe and Clean for environmental services emerged as a direct response to Jordan’s growing waste crisis. Founded by Mohammad Naji Al Tarawneh, an expert in environmental chemistry, the company’s mission is to transform waste management through sustainable, high-tech solutions rooted in the principles of the circular economy.

Jordan’s efforts to tackle this issue have shown early promise. According to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), the green economy sector recycled 7,000 tons of waste across three pilot projects, with Al-Sha’air station alone processing up to 3,500 tons daily. Despite these developments, recycling and reuse rates remain low — between 10–12% in the informal sector and less than 1% formally — pointing to a critical need for scalable, innovative solutions.

One of its core innovations is the use of biogas technology to convert organic waste into renewable energy. Through anaerobic digestion, organic matter is broken down in oxygen-free environments, producing biogas rich in methane — a clean fuel for electricity, heating or cooking. Biogas systems are also deployed, especially in rural areas, to convert animal waste into cooking fuel while capturing harmful methane emissions. In parallel, Safe and Clean provides carbon emissions reporting to help clients track their environmental impact, and runs awareness programs to promote eco-conscious behaviours among individuals, businesses and institutions.

This achievement is a practical application of the circular economy model by integrating the waste management, energy, and agricultural sectors.

The biogas system not only generates renewable energy from organic waste but also produces liquid organic fertilizer — a valuable byproduct that can be widely utilized in homes and facilities generating organic waste.

This sectoral integration supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and opens the door to creating new green job opportunities across the value chain

These services, along with personalised consultancy and outreach programmes, allow Safe and Clean to serve businesses, municipalities, and residential communities while supporting environmental management.

Like many sustainability-driven ventures, Safe and Clean faced initial resistance, especially in raising awareness and changing business mindsets around eco-friendly practices. Many companies were hesitant to shift from traditional waste disposal methods to greener alternatives. The company responded with sustained outreach, offering workshops, custom waste audits, and tailored strategies that demonstrated both environmental and economic benefits.

Since its first contract in November 2021, Safe and Clean for Environmental Services has grown its portfolio to over 200 agreements by the end of 2024. The company proudly serves a diverse range of sectors across Jordan, including leading telecommunications providers like Zain, prominent industrial and food companies, as well as some of the country’s most prestigious five-star hotels and restaurants such as the St. Regis, W Amman Hotel, and Al Qasr Metropole.

Throughout 2024, Safe and Clean for Environmental Services has successfully collected and recycled more than 60 tons of organic waste — primarily sourced from bakeries, hotels, and food production facilities — which have been repurposed into high-quality animal feed in collaboration with the Modern Specialized Feed Company, supporting both food waste reduction and sustainable livestock nutrition. They have also recycled 50 tons of plastic waste, which has been sorted by type (PET, HDPE, LDPE) and delivered to licensed recycling facilities for processing into secondary raw materials used in the production of new packaging, pipes, and construction materials.

Other precious waste were also recycled such as 25 tons of metal, including ferrous and non-ferrous materials, which have been compacted, smelted, and reintegrated into the industrial supply chain, 6 tons of aluminum cans, which were compressed and recycled into new can stock and lightweight mechanical components and 150 tons of paper and cardboard, collected from corporate offices, commercial centers, and hospitality venues, which have been pulped and reprocessed into recycled packaging and tissue products.

These recycling efforts have collectively contributed to a reduction of over 350 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, calculated based on standardized carbon offset conversion rates per recycled material type. This impact reflects Safe and Cleancore mission to drive climate action, promote circular economy principles, and create a sustainable ecosystem that connects the waste management, energy, agriculture, and industrial sectors.

Looking ahead, Safe and Clean aims to expand its operations throughout Jordan and the wider Middle East, inspiring systemic change in waste perception and utilisation. Its visión is a future where waste is seen not as a burden, but as a resource for energy, product creation, and carbón reduction. These state-level efforts, paired with Safe and Cleanentrepreneurial leadership, mark an important shift toward a cleaner, more circular and resilient future not only for Jordan, but worldwide.

Find more information about Safe and Clean through their website, Linkedin, and FB.