Mashnouq Adamant to Implement his Plan as Garbage Piles Up

Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq vowed on Tuesday to resolve the waste management problem by implementing a plan proposed by him after the closure of the Naameh landfill sparked an environmental crisis.

Al-Mashnouq told al-Akhbar newspaper that he would start on Tuesday to take practical measures to implement the plan to transport the waste to several regions as a temporary solution pending the launching of tenders on the establishment of new landfills.

“I will not wait for the session of the cabinet,” which is set to discuss the crisis on Thursday, he said.

Al-Mashnouq ruled out the transport of waste to countries outside Lebanon because of its high cost.

“Garbage is on the streets and needs a quick solution,” he said.

Last week, the minister asked municipalities to dispose of their own waste, but his call has drawn mixed reactions.

The Naameh landfill that lies south of Beirut was closed last Friday in accordance with a government decision.

The closure caused trash to spill out of dumpsters after Sukleen, which is responsible for collecting and transporting the garbage in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, failed to dispose of waste following the landfill's closure.

Sukleen said it can no longer fill up its premises with accumulated trash.

Al-Mashnouq said following a meeting for the parliamentary environment committee on Tuesday that Sukleen can no longer find a place to stash waste.

“All municipalities should help find a solution to this problem,” he said.

MP Marwan Hamadeh, who heads the committee, announced his support for the minister's plan to create landfills in several areas and for each region to treat its waste.

“The environment committee's meetings will be open-ended pending a solution” to the waste management crisis, Hamadeh said.