The Development of an Integrated Master Plan for Improving Waste Management

The UNDP, in partnership with the ASEZA, seeks to engage a qualified consultancy firm to support the development of a comprehensive and integrated master plan for the solid waste management sector in Aqaba, with a short, med and long-term planning horizon of 20 years. The assignment will also include the preparation of an actionable plan for upgrading infrastructure aimed at enhancing the environmental, social, and financial sustainability of waste management within the ASEZ.

The assignment aims to support ASEZA in strengthening the planning, governance, and operational efficiency of Aqaba’s waste management system, while guiding the transition from the current landfill-dependent model toward a modern, resource-efficient, and environmentally sustainable system. The waste sector master plan will be aligned with ASEZA’s Strategic Plan (2024–2028), Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision (2022–2033), and the Urban Master Plan for Aqaba (2020–2040). It will establish a strategic framework for improving infrastructure, land-use planning and zoning, operational systems, regulatory mechanisms, investment priorities, and financial sustainability, while promoting resource recovery, circular economy practices, and reduced reliance on landfill disposal.

The consultancy assignment will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the current waste management system in Aqaba from strategic, technical, institutional, and operational perspectives. This assessment will cover municipal solid waste as well as other key waste streams generated within the ASEZ, including industrial, healthcare, hazardous, and other special wastes. Based on this analysis, the assignment will identify critical gaps and opportunities and develop a phased implementation roadmap for infrastructure development, institutional strengthening, and land-use and investment planning. Furthermore, the assignment will identify opportunities to enhance private sector participation across the waste management value chain in Aqaba and support the establishment of an enabling environment for investment in recycling, treatment, and resource recovery within the ASEZ.

Ultimately, the assignment will support ASEZA in transitioning Aqaba’s waste management system toward a modern, integrated, and resource-efficient model that aligns with national legislation, environmental protection requirements, and international best practices. The master plan will provide a clear strategic vision and actionable roadmap for improving infrastructure, operational performance, regulatory frameworks, and financial sustainability, while promoting resource recovery, minimizing landfill disposal, and contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction.

Through this process, the study will identify practical and economically viable solutions tailored to Aqaba’s local context, taking into account the diversity of waste streams generated by residential, commercial, industrial, tourism, and port activities. It will also highlight investment priorities and support ASEZA in strengthening public–private partnerships to advance sustainable waste management and circular economy initiatives in the city.

The specific objectives of the assignment are to:

a)       Assess the current solid waste management system in Aqaba from legal, institutional, regulatory, technical, operational, financial, environmental, social, and economic aspects, and identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.

b)       Conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing waste management practices and prepare a SWOT analysis of the waste sector in ASEZ.

c)       Develop a long-term integrated planning framework for managing different waste streams generated in Aqaba, including municipal solid waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, construction and demolition waste, green waste, and other special waste streams.

d)       Identify and evaluate suitable locations and technical options for a new sanitary landfill that matches the waste generation and projections and complies with international standards and provides sufficient capacity for at least 20 years of operation.

e)       Assess options for the closure, rehabilitation, and potential future use of the existing landfill site in Aqaba in line with environmental protection requirements.

f)        Evaluate and propose suitable locations and technical solutions for waste transfer stations and material recovery facilities (MRFs), including infrastructure for recyclable materials recovery and organic waste treatment (e.g., composting).

g)       Identify appropriate technological and operational solutions to improve waste collection, transportation, treatment, recycling, and disposal systems in Aqaba.

h)       Assess the current recycling market and value chain, including formal and informal actors, and propose strategies to strengthen and organize recycling activities.

i)         Propose a concept and spatial plan for a centralized recycling and resource recovery zone to host private recycling industries, scrap dealers, aggregation facilities, processors, and related activities.

j)         Review the legislative, institutional, and regulatory framework governing waste management in Aqaba and recommend measures to enhance efficiency, coordination, and enforcement.

k)       Analyze the financial and economic structure of the waste management system, including cost recovery mechanisms and service fees, and recommend improvements to enhance financial sustainability.

l)         Evaluate and propose economic instruments and policy mechanisms that support waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery, including potential Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) models.

m)     Identify opportunities to strengthen private sector participation in waste management services, infrastructure development, recycling activities, and investment in resource recovery technologies.

n)       Identify and assess investment opportunities in the waste sector and develop a sector profile to support investor engagement and market development.

o)       Explore opportunities for smart waste management solutions, including digital platforms, data management systems, waste tracking, monitoring dashboards, and analytics to support evidence-based decision-making.

p)       Develop GIS-based spatial planning outputs and databases to support infrastructure planning, waste flow management, and long-term sector development.

q)       Prepare a prioritized implementation roadmap outlining short-, medium-, and long-term actions with budgeting, financing, and M&E for the phased development of Aqaba’s waste management system.

The consultancy firm engaged under this ToR (hereinafter referred to as “the Consultant”) shall prepare and submit to UNDP and the ASEZA a comprehensive waste sector master plan for Aqaba, together with a detailed business, operational model, and implementation package. This shall include all technical, institutional, financial, and operational documentation required to meet the requirements outlined in this ToR and to support the effective implementation of the proposed actions for the modernization and improvement of the waste management system in the “ASEZ” including the city of Aqaba over a twenty-year planning horizon.