Lebanese Government Holds Meeting to Address Decade-Long Waste Crisis

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam led a meeting focused on resolving the waste management issue in Beirut. The session included Interior and Municipalities Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Al-Hajjar, Environment Minister Dr. Tamara Al-Zein, and several members of parliament: Ibrahim Mneimneh, Fouad Makhzoumi, Melhem Khalaf, Imad Al-Hout, Faisal Al-Sayegh, Paula Yacoubian, Nadim Gemayel, Wadih Al-Sadiq, Amin Sherri, Ghassan Hasbani, Jihad Baqradoni, Hagop Terzian, Adnan Traboulsi, Muhammad Khawaja, Nicolas Sahnaoui, and Cynthia Zarazir. Also present were the Chairman of the Council for Development and Reconstruction Muhammad Ali Qabbani, Beirut Governor Judge Marwan Abboud, the official responsible for the file at the governorate Zaki Dhibian, Beirut Mayor Ibrahim Zaidan, and the head of the National Authority for Solid Waste Management Marwan Rizkallah.

Following the meeting, MP Ghassan Hasbani stated, "During the session, the topic of the National Authority for Solid Waste Management was discussed, and the Council for Development and Reconstruction presented its current activities and the challenges facing this file."

Members of parliament expressed their concerns regarding the situation in Beirut and emphasized the need for swift solutions. Several options were proposed for comprehensive study, taking into account environmental, economic, and social factors, aiming to reach a permanent solution alongside addressing current challenges.

Hasbani noted that the issue has persisted for nearly ten years and that the current situation cannot continue unchanged. "This meeting was convened under the leadership of Prime Minister Salam to gather diverse ideas and reach final solutions," he added.

He further explained, "Various ideas and solutions were presented for study and research, including methods for sorting, labeling, and treatment before the landfill stage, as well as mechanisms to reduce landfill use. The idea of studying the possibility of exporting waste to countries that can utilize it for fuel production was also raised."

All ideas, both old and new, were placed on the table for comprehensive and integrated examination.