It is rare to see a foreigner speaking Arabic in Jordanian dialect fluently. Anselm Ibenj not only speaks the local language but also uses a Muslim name, Abu Salem. Ibenj, like all most Germans, has Caucasian skin and blue eyes but prefers being identified as part of Jordanian society.

"Sometimes I violate traffic rules but police forgive this European for fluently expressing himself in the local accent," he says with a naughty smile.

He is more Jordanian than many indigenous ones. For instance, in the absence of an efficient waste disposal system, Abu Salem is an unquestionable national icon of recycling waste.

The team looks busy in sorting out plastics, glass, metals and other items before selling the material to recycling factories. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

The pack of fresh biscuits and bakery item leave Abu Salem and his teams in limbo over their fate. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

Abu Salem points to consumable fresh bread that restaurants throw in garbage; a routine sight that disturb him and his team. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

An municipality worker cleans a street at night. Most of garbage collected is left in the trash cans to rot, producing bad odor and nursing bacteria. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

A street scene from Amman, which look cleaner due to teamwork of civil society and municipal authority. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

Over-flowing trash bins are still a common site in many parts of the capital Amman, direly in need of an effective awareness campaign. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

When the world faced with food shortages and poverty on the rise in many parts of Asia and Africa, fresh food is wasted in countries like Jordan without second thoughts. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

Abu Salem admiringly looks at a painting found in waste collection from a primary school. The German national seems to enjoy his profession and mission to the core. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

Abu Salem shows off the pencil color work of a budding, child artist whose lines and strokes spring hope for a conserved environment in Jordan. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

The team looks busy in sorting out plastics, glass, metals and other items before selling the material to recycling factories. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

The pack of fresh biscuits and bakery item leave Abu Salem and his teams in limbo over their fate. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

Abu Salem points to consumable fresh bread that restaurants throw in garbage; a routine sight that disturb him and his team. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

An municipality worker cleans a street at night. Most of garbage collected is left in the trash cans to rot, producing bad odor and nursing bacteria. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

A street scene from Amman, which look cleaner due to teamwork of civil society and municipal authority. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

Over-flowing trash bins are still a common site in many parts of the capital Amman, direly in need of an effective awareness campaign. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

When the world faced with food shortages and poverty on the rise in many parts of Asia and Africa, fresh food is wasted in countries like Jordan without second thoughts. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

Abu Salem admiringly looks at a painting found in waste collection from a primary school. The German national seems to enjoy his profession and mission to the core. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

Abu Salem shows off the pencil color work of a budding, child artist whose lines and strokes spring hope for a conserved environment in Jordan. – Photo by Abeer Hisham

From an 8-meter room crammed with nylon bags of waste in Ain Al-Basha, 20 kilometers from Jordanian capital Amman, Abu Salem helps keep the vicinity clean while giving new life to discarded materials.

Abu Salem came here in 2007 to study integrated management of water resources in the University of Jordan. After obtaining master's degree, he convinced the British embassy to help recycle waste on the streets.

Courtesy a TV channel host, Anselm Ibenj got his Arabic name. He admits that the local name really helps him in his work and social life.

Somewhere in Jordan, he crossed path with Wajeeh Arifj, a like-minded man and founder of the Green. Both teamed up well. Abu Salem now heads recycling and marketing departments for three branches of the company: Ain Al-Basha, the Dead Sea and Aqaba.

With a committed staff of 80, he deals with major hotels and companies for sending their garbage for recycling. The waste generally comprises different types of plastics, paper, bottled water and alcoholic beverages.

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