06-08 JULY 2027
Seaside Pavilion, Beirut, Lebanon
2024 EDITION INAUGURATED BY
His Excellency Dr. Nasser Yassin Minister
of Environment, Lebanon

Solid Waste Management in Lebanon

Working Towards A Sustainable Future:

Waste management is one of the biggest environmental challenges in Lebanon. The waste stream is steadily increasing in volume, especially with respect to municipal solid waste, industrial waste, hazardous waste and agricultural waste. The composition of waste is also becoming more complex and varied, containing increasing amounts of plastics, chemicals, and electronics, placing increasing demands for sustainable waste management strategy in Lebanon in order to safeguard human health, natural ecosystems and sustainable development.

As per conservative estimates, Lebanon generates around 7,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day, out of which 48 percent is land filled, 29 percent openly dumped, 15 percent composted and only 8 percent recycled.

Waste Distribution by Governates (Tons/day)

3700140010501050
BML
North & Akkar
Bekaa, Baalbek & Hermel
South & Nabatieh
Fig:1

Urban/Rural

100%80%60%40%20%0%
10%
4%
6.2%
12%
16%
52.5%
Lebanon
Other
Glass
Metal
Plastic
Paper
Organic
Fig:2

The Government's New Waste Management Law:

The Lebanese government has recently unveiled the new waste management law which lays strong emphasis on implementation of the 4Rs of waste management – Reduce, Reuse, Recycling and Recovery (of energy). Serious efforts are underway to close hundreds of dumpsites across the country and replace them with engineered landfills and waste-to-energy facilities.