Support Program Conflict, Climate Change and Environment in the Middle East

The Lebanese solid waste issue has turned into a crisis when the country’s sanitary landfills have reached full capacity in 2015. Insufficient governance led to the expansion of Lebanese landfills to meet the needs – ignoring their potential impact on the environment. The environment of the pilot area in Blat is under pressure since it has been hosting companies, industries, a university campus, schools, resorts, and restaurants. Tensions are rising within the local community due to lack of awareness and community resistance against new sanitary landfills. The project envisions  tackling the multidimensional issues holistically and on several levels.

This community-based project aims to implement an integrated sustainable solid waste management plan that optimizes material recovery, minimizes environmental impacts, alleviates tensions, and increases social cohesion. It will address all elements of the solid waste management system. The project is based on inclusive governance and public participation in decision-making processes. By working with stakeholders on different levels, tensions will be relieved and social cohesion will be enhanced. Moreover, the project aims to foster innovation for environmental solutions for solid waste management and the promotion of best practices on the community level.

Based on the project’s aims, the development and implementation of an integrated sustainable solid waste management campaign will be performed. The project pursues two streams of activities. On a technical level, solid waste management processes need to be improved. On a community level, the inclusion of various societal groups in the process will be fostered. Thereby, the streams of activities are closely linked to each other and often intertwined. Activities include the capacity building of the municipal staff. They also include a community-based awareness campaign to increase the project's visibility. In addition, the participation of underrepresented groups such as youth and women will be promoted. Finally, members of the blue economy will be encouraged to participate in the solid waste management process.