Like most countries, Lebanon has adopted a linear approach to economic development, whereby production and consumption follow the “Take-Make-Waste” pattern. This applies to almost all material flows, and leads to the accumulation of large amounts of waste, the majority of which is not even recycled. Domestic solid waste and construction/demolition waste constitute the largest volume of refuse in Lebanese landfills, and this has been the case since 1990.
Due to Lebanon’s small territory (10,452km2) and high population density (estimated at 560/km2 in 2022, 27th worldwide), the expansion of existing landfills and the establishment of new ones have always been challenging. In 2015, the closure of the Naameh landfill - one the main landfills receiving Beirut’s waste - resulted in the piling up of garbage in the streets, and protests that engulfed the center of the city.
Since then, the waste crisis has been tackled only through a recycling perspective. The hierarchy of waste management which calls for reduction as a priority followed by reuse, and only then recycling, hasn’t been adopted, and is very rarely discussed in the public discourse around waste management.
Although a transition towards a circular economy includes many trades and topics, this paper explores possible strategies for Lebanon to adopt a circular approach to waste management and materials revalorization, with a specific focus on packaging recirculation and product reuse, looking into:
a) Reducing waste coming from disposable one-time-usage packaging through circular packaging solutions, substituting in particular Single Use Plastics (SUPs) and plastic/nylon bags, and;
b) Incentivizing the reuse/repair/recirculation of products in Lebanon, lessening the need for imports, increase self-sufficiency, and creating local job opportunities.
The paper provides initial recommendations and an action roadmap founded on the degree of feasibility of each strategy or solution in the country. It is based on research, local expertise, as well as three short consultations.
You can read the full paper published in 2024 here.
Designed by The Farm
