Public Services

Everything about: waste and circular economy, public transport and transport, energy supply, water supply / wastewater disposal.

Public services as the basis for liveable cities 

Municipal services are the backbone of a livable city. They range from providing clean drinking water to waste disposal and ensuring efficient mobility. The quality and accessibility of these services significantly influence the quality of life and the development of a city.

A reliable urban infrastructure in the areas of housing, water, electricity supply, waste management, education, and culture forms the foundation for the well-being of citizens. Effective management of urban services not only ensures the fulfillment of basic needs but also promotes social cohesion. Different operational models provide valuable experiences for the efficient provision of these services.

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Inclusive services for just urban development 

Moreover, social inclusion plays a crucial role in urban development. Inclusive urban design means that all citizens, regardless of their social status, have access to these services. This fosters coexistence among different population groups and strengthens social cohesion. Through targeted support and development of disadvantaged urban areas, cities can create inclusive environments where every citizen has equal opportunities.

The discussion and sharing of good practices within initiatives like Connective Cities offer a valuable platform for learning from the experiences of other cities and finding joint solutions to these challenges. Only through cooperative and forward-thinking approaches can cities improve their services and promote sustainable development.

The future of urban development lies in innovative and inclusive approaches that address the diverse challenges of our time. Through community engagement and close collaboration between various stakeholders, cities can become more resilient, livable, and sustainable.

Our Subtopics

Waste management is a key municipal service that is linked to health, the environment, climate, economic development and income generation. In many cities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, efforts are being made to utilise waste as a resource. Integrated sustainable waste management includes prevention, collection, recycling and disposal. Municipal companies share their best practices to strengthen capacities in partner countries, raise awareness among citizens and involve the private sector in the provision of services.

The management of the water sector plays a decisive role in urbanisation. Municipalities must ensure adequate water supply and sanitation for a growing population. This requires efficient utilisation of water resources, including improved irrigation methods and greater efficiency of water utilities. An integrated approach between the water, waste and energy sectors could create synergies, for example by reusing sewage sludge as an energy source or fertiliser. Water conservation and behavioural changes at municipal level are also required.

Affordable housing is a pressing problem worldwide, exacerbated by urbanisation, population growth and inadequate infrastructure. There is a lack of affordable housing, particularly in the rapidly growing cities of the global South, which leads to slum formation and social inequality. In industrialised countries, many people are confronted with rising rents and gentrification. In order to promote affordable housing, political measures, sustainable construction projects and the involvement of private and public stakeholders are needed to meet demand and ensure social inclusion.

Partnerschaften für die Kreislaufwirtschaft

Good Practices are proven methods, strategies, or processes that have demonstrated exceptional success, efficiency, or effectiveness in practice. They serve as models or guidance for addressing similar challenges or projects in different contexts. Good Practices in sustainable urban development showcase innovative and successful approaches that can inspire cities worldwide. The key is to adapt and further develop them to fit local conditions, ensuring a long-term, sustainable impact.

Good Practice

Partnerships for Circular Economy - Sustainable Waste Management in Jerash, Jordan

The municipality aims to collect recyclable materials, sort them at the source, and change the consumption behavior of citizens to make progress toward a circular economy. Given the large scale of the task, the process is planned to be implemented in several phases. By leveraging strategic partnerships with NGOs and the private sector, the local government aims to successfully implement waste sorting and recycling.

Overview

Through strategic partnerships, the Jordanian city of Jerash was able to overcome obstacles in solid waste management and embark on a path toward a circular economy. By collaborating with various stakeholders, the city administration was able to develop strategies for effective waste management and address challenges related to insufficient operational budgets, low collection rates, waste dumping, and the associated environmental and public health issues.

The municipality of Jerash, located in northern Jordan, lies 48 kilometers north of the capital, Amman. The municipality, with a population of over 160,000, has a vision for a green, sustainable, and healthy city. However, inefficient waste management hindered the realization of this vision. In September 2020, the city administration launched a project targeting a specific area where most businesses and commercial activities are located, aiming to promote the collection of plastics, paper, cardboard, glass, and metals for recycling purposes.

The municipality aims to collect recyclable materials, sort them at the source, and change the consumer behavior of its citizens to make progress toward a circular economy. Given the large scope of the task, the process is planned to be implemented in multiple phases. Through strategic partnerships with non-governmental organizations and the private sector, the city administration seeks to successfully put waste sorting and recycling into practice.

As part of the first phase of the transformation process, the following activities were carried out:

  1. In collaboration with UNDP and the Institute for University Cooperation (ICU), the municipality developed its sorting and collection facility. The source sorting focused on business centers and commercial enterprises, with cardboard and paper being the primary raw materials. With the support of UNDP and ICU, the municipality was able to expand its sorting facility with additional waste management machinery. The sorted recyclable materials are not reused or recycled in the facility but are sold as raw materials to local factories. Currently, plans are being developed to include other raw materials, considering the growing number of informal waste collectors.
  2. The municipality collects, sorts, and disposes of various types of plastics. A palletizer is planned for the municipal site in the future. However, there are no plastic factories in the municipality, so the plastic is transported to the nearest factory, which is 45 km away from the city.
  3. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): The infrastructure for the collection and sorting of paper and cardboard is in place and functioning. The involvement of the private sector has been beneficial not only for overcoming the legal constraints the municipality faces when operating alone but also for mobilizing the technical expertise required to optimize waste management and recycling. Furthermore, involving informal collectors helps ensure gender balance and takes into account the needs of this sector of the local community.

  1. Recyclable Materials: 50% of the businesses in Jerash work closely with the local government to sort and recycle solid waste. The collected recyclables are sold to cover operational costs. The financial incentives for the involved businesses helped increase participation. The municipal facility sorts 500 kg of plastic per day.
  2. Raising Awareness: The use of urban furniture made from recycled plastic has helped raise local awareness about plastic recycling.
  3. Job Creation: The project has led to job creation. Future plans to expand the plastic sorting and recycling facility could increase its capacity and the coverage of the served area (residential areas and schools), while creating additional jobs.

The success of this project is due to several factors:

  1. Through PPPs, the municipality overcame legal barriers and addressed the issue of informal collectors. Transparent and proactive relationships with the private sector are crucial for the success and sustainability of such projects. Additionally, improving infrastructure is key to partnering with the private sector.
  2. Financial incentives promoted the participation of businesses and commercial enterprises in the recycling program.
  3. Awareness-raising efforts educated citizens on the importance of source sorting.

The sustainability of the project is crucial, as growth is needed to meet the urgent demand for waste management adjustments in the municipality. To ensure future development, a project proposal titled “Plastijerash” was developed together with Connective Cities. The project, proposed by the municipality of Jerash and its partner company “Plasticity,” aims to increase community engagement and raise awareness about plastic recycling. Other goals of the proposed project include job creation and the use of plastic waste for urban furniture. Along with another project developed by Jerash Connective Cities to improve energy efficiency in waste collection, this initiative also contributes to climate protection and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

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Important topics for a sustainable future

Learn more about waste and circular economy, public transport and mobility, energy supply, and water management. Explore exciting events and in-depth documentaries on these forward-thinking sectors.

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