Civil Society Campaigners Protest Toxic Stench of Trash Burning
We Want Accountability civil society demonstrators gathered by the municipality of al-Jdeideh protesting the outspread burning of garbage that has spread in several areas in Lebanon diffusing a toxic stench, the National News Agency said on Friday.
The campaigners gathered by the municipality of al-Jdeideh in al-Bauchrieh
demanding that the municipalities intervene and put an end to this “phenomenon in light of the health hazards as the result of inhaling the toxic smoke and foul smell.”
“The municipalities should halt this phenomenon in public places mainly because it causes serious damage to the human being, and makes one prone to blood clots as the result of the fumes,” they said.
For its part, the municipality stated: “We will assist in extinguishing the fire. We are in the process of building a project in the near future to burn wastes.”
A trash management crisis erupted in July when the largest landfill that receives the trash of Beirut and Mount Lebanon was closed.
Politicians have so far failed to find an alternative in light of wide rejections of residents and municipalities from outside the capital who refuse to receive the trash other than their regions'.
On the outskirts of the capital, mountains of putrid garbage are rising and tempers are flaring as the rubbish collection crisis shows no signs of being resolved.
Desperate Beirut has taken to dumping its rubbish in huge makeshift piles, with the largest -- in Karantina at the northern entrance of the city -- neighboring the trendy nightlife areas of Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh.
Garbage mountains have also sprouted on both sides of the highway leading north out of Beirut, as well as under its bridges and near the already polluted coast.
Although the government approved a plan following the biggest anti-government protests in years, it still faces tremendous obstacles hampering its implementation.
Adding to the environmental and health concerns, many Beirutis are resorting to burning garbage or spraying rubbish piles with strong insecticides.
D.A.
M.T.
Source: Naharnet
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