Ain Dara Residents Block Dahr al-Baydar Road over Waste Transfer Reports

Residents of the Aley District town of Ain Dara blocked the vital Dahr al-Baydar road Tuesday over reports that garbage from other areas will be transferred to their region.

“Ain Dara residents blocked the Dahr al-Baydar road at Hammana's intersection in protest of waste transfer to their region,” state-run National News Agency reported.

The key highway links the Beirut, Mount Lebanon and Bekaa regions.

Earlier in the day, civil society activists from the “You Stink” movement blocked most roads in downtown Beirut to protest the latest garbage crisis and the government's approach towards it.

On Monday, protesters reopened the coastal Beirut-South highway in the Jiyeh area after receiving pledges from officials that no garbage trucks would be sent to the Iqlim al-Kharroub region. The vital road had been blocked for more than 24 hours.

Several roads were also blocked in the capital Beirut.

Later on Monday, the waste management ministerial committee announced reaching a “solution” that involves the “immediate resumption” of waste collection in Beirut, a “balanced distribution” of Beirut and Mount Lebanon's garbage to new locations and financial “incentives” to municipalities.

The trash crisis erupted on July 17 when the Naameh landfill south of Beirut was closed following a campaign by residents and environmental activists.

Y.R.