WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE LEBANON - AN ECONOMICALLY DEVELOPING COUNTRY

摘要

Funding from the World Bank allowed the Lebanon to review it's waste management arrangements. It chose to use that money for the provision of a comprehensive waste management system for Greater Beirut as that would cater for 40% of the countries population. Waste is collected from 500 litre refuse bins strategically sited throughout the city. The bins are emptied daily and the waste transferred to a materials recycling facility where it is sorted. The green waste is composted and the residues are transported to a modern sanitary landfill to the south of the city. Other cities in the Lebanon are not as fortunate as they still dispose of their wastes to open dumps. Scavenging prevails providing income for the informal sector. However, some 5 years from the commencement of the waste management programme for Greater Beirut, crisis looms. The landfill that was expected to last for at least 10 years is all but full with no follow on site yet secured. Recycling levels are much lower than predicted and the markets expected for recyclates have not materialised.. What does the future hold?