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BEIRUT: Lebanon’s chronic garbage dump problem can be solved permanently for a little over $50 million, according to a study released Thursday.
Research conducted in preparation for a “Master Plan on Rehabilitation and Closure of Closure of Uncontrolled Dumps in Lebanon,” estimates that Lebanon’s 670 illegal dumps can be either rehabilitated, or closed, for around $51.7 million.
This is “a fraction” of what the dumps have cost in terms of environmental costs and knock-on effects on human health, said caretaker Environment Minister Mohammad Rahhal.
“These dumps cause losses worth tens of millions of dollars annually in health losses, water losses, losses in everything that garbage has an effect on,” said Rahhal.
“In my opinion, direct or indirect losses, made over the last 15 to 20 years, have reached $1 billion, whereas the cost of fixing all these dumps is $51,650,000,” he added.
The findings, presented by the Environment Ministry and the United Nations Development Program, show that around one-third of all solid municipal waste – some 410,000 to 510,000 tons out of the estimated 1.4 million tons dumped each year – is ending up in illegal, open-air dumps.
“These pose a severe threat to human health and the environment,” said Rashed Ghanem, project manager with Elard, a consulting company that helped compile the action plan.
“We have recorded contamination of surrounding soil, groundwater, surface water and air. These contaminants have been allowed into the food chain,” Ghanem added.
Of the 670 recorded dumps – not including the Bourj Hammoud and Tripoli sites, where no new garbage is being deposited – 166 are used for construction material and 504 for household litter and sometimes even medical waste, which is the “most harmful to health,” said Rahhal.
Under the proposed action plan, expected in full by the end of the month in preparation for approval by the new government, the top 20 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) dumps will be rehabilitated at a cost of slightly more than $34 million.
This would cover a mere 4 percent of the total dump number, but around 70 percent of the 5 million meters squared of MSW garbage, accounting for a large majority of Lebanon’s 6.75 million square meters of illegally dumped waste.
It would be carried out in conjunction with clearing of Construction Demolition Waste (CDW), 75 percent of which could be cleared for an estimated cost of $5.56 million
The most urgent priority, however, would be awarded to the Sidon site, which is considered the most dangerous and costly in Lebanon, holding over 1,200,000 meters cubic of garbage, the report said.
Sidon alone houses more waste than the next seven most polluted MSW dumps – Deir Qanoun al-Ain in Tyre, Hbaline in Jbeil, Srar in Akkar, Adweh in Minieh, Kfar Tibnit in Nabatieh, Barr Elias in Zahle and the Hamat dump in Batroun – put together.
For CDW sites, Shmustar in Baalbek, Ammiq al-Chouf and Dmit dumps in the Chouf, Beit Mery in Metn and Kounine in Bint Jbeil, are considered the most hazardous.
Not including Sidon, “some 1,300 tons of garbage – or 375,000 meters cubic – is dumped daily in illegal dumps,” said Rahhal.
“I have spoken to municipalities to put an end to illegal garbage dumps and start charging for waste.”
However, the ministry’s scope for action has been severely reduced by the ongoing political impasse and any future action will have to await approval from any new government, he added.
“Stability is a must for the development and productivity of the country. This stability was offered by the Hariri government but unfortunately, the government did not last long,” said Rahhal. “This is a message to keep work and development out of political problems that hinder improvement of the current situation.”
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