Beirut – 15 December 2021: A Solid Waste Facility (SWF) in Deir Al Ahmar in North Baalbeck, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme with the financial support from the Government of Japan, was inaugurated on December 11, 2021, in the presence of the Minister of Environment, the Ambassador of Japan, and the UNDP Resident Representative. The facility, which is the first in the area, will serve more than 14 municipalities and surrounding villages.

Solid waste management remains a challenge in Lebanon due to misconceptions on best-practices, critical concerns of communities about locations of waste facilities, sustainability of these operations, as well as cross-sector institutional coordination. In North Baalbeck specifically, waste management has been a particular concern, and Municipal Solid Waste has been dumped randomly in open air sites without sorting. Widespread uncontrolled dumping causes a range of environmental impacts on air, water, and land, resulting in serious public health risks. Furthermore, open burning practices have been taking place posing serious health risks for residents including displaced people, especially for those living near the dumpsites. To take immediate action, the local authorities formed a consortium of municipalities who in turn submitted the solid waste management facility proposal to the Ministry of Environment and secured the land for sanitary landfills and the sorting facility.

The facility which holds a capacity of 25 tons per day will serve the North Baalbek region, where there are around 227,000 Lebanese, of which 41% live under the poverty line. The municipalities and villages covered are the Union of Deir Al Ahmar municipalities including Deir Al Ahmar, Btedai, Ainata, Bechwat, Barqa, Al Zrazir, Nabha Al Qouddam, and Nabha Al Mehfara. In addition, villages from outside the union will also benefit from the facility, including Chlifa Mazraat Al Sayad, Mazraat Beit Bou Salibi, Mazraat Beit Matar, and Safra.

An Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) approach was applied for the implementation of the project, in line with the guidance from the Ministry of Environment. Extensive trainings on waste segregation were conducted by local NGO the Lebanese Organisation for Studies and Training (LOST). The awareness raising campaigns reached out to 70% of the total population, in the area.  The targeted villages also received around 5,000 bins for sorting at source activities and 5 trucks to ensure the implementation of a proper waste collection system.

The facility will be used to further segregate and reduce waste needed for disposal by removing the recyclable parts from the waste (such as glass, paper and metal) which can be sold to local industries and reused. The facility also includes equipment for organic waste composting which can be used as compost if the separation at household level is ensured.

“Today, I am glad to see the completion of this important project as waste dumping on environment has destructive impact not only on soil, water, air, but also on people’s well-being. It is also our hope that it would promote social cohesion by reducing the tensions between the host and refugee communities. Japan will maintain its support to socio-environmental initiatives led by local and international actors to help Lebanon accelerate economic recovery and stability”, said Takeshi Okubo, the Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon.

“The Ministry of Environment is working on the national-level strategy for the solid waste sector in Lebanon. This was re-emphasized in the law that was formulated in 2018 on Integrated Solid Waste Management Planning. This project was coordinated, on a technical and policy level, with the Ministry and is in line with the national legislation and the Integrated solid waste management national strategy.” said Dr. Nasser Yassin, the Minister of Environment.

“We are pleased to have inaugurated an integrated solid waste management approach in North Baalbek, along with our partners. Proper waste management is a key pillar of public health and environmental sustainability in Lebanon.  We remain committed to Lebanon’s sustainable recovery and look forward to replicating this exemplary initiative in other areas, with the support of our partners”, said Celine Moyroud, UNDP Resident Representative.

For more information, please contact

In UNDP – Lebanon        |  Rana Moughabghab   |  rana.moughabghab@undp.org  |  +961 3 835 351

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