Lina El Shiban

Jordanian eco-entrepreneur creating sustainable waste solutions through innovative recycling programs

Lina El Shiban is the founder of Green Brokers, a Jordan-based social enterprise that transforms urban waste into economic opportunities. Growing up in Amman during the 2000s, she witnessed the environmental challenges caused by unregulated waste disposal and lack of recycling infrastructure. Her breakthrough came in 2013 when she developed a model connecting households, schools, and businesses with waste collection services that pay participants with recycled materials.

Green Brokers' signature program turns plastic waste into building materials through a partnership with RecycleBank technology. This process creates durable materials for construction projects, such as the eco-schools built in refugee camps across Jordan. By 2019, the company had diverted over 500 tons of waste from landfills and provided income opportunities to 2,000+ families, including Syrian refugees.

El Shiban's approach emphasizes community education through workshops and her YouTube channel, which has over 100,000 subscribers. Her work was recognized with the 2017 UN Environment Programme Award and the 2019 Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur Prize. She also advises the Jordanian government on circular economy policies, advocating for legislation that incentivizes sustainable practices.