In Lebanon, solid waste management has reached crisis point during the summer of 2015. The inability of governments to offer long term sustainable solutions to solid waste management led to the closing down of the Naameh Landfill, what caused the piles of garbage across Beirut and Mount Lebanon last summer.

Beirut has been the scene of growing demonstrations in reaction to the government’s disastrous management of waste disposal and treatment tons of rubbish were left on the streets of the country’s major cities.

The government drafted a crisis management plan to deal with the immediate urgency of the situation. The plan entails e.g. that municipalities become the entities responsible for the management of solid waste within their communities. Although the Lebanese government and the Lebanese civil society agree that municipalities should take over leading roles in the long term solution for the solid waste management, most municipalities are currently unable to fulfill this role. And as written in the Daily Star, dated 1st of February 2016, 85 municipalities are accused of burning waste and have so far been referred to the judiciary over gabage buring despite repeated warnings to en the dangerous and illegal practice. 

Lack of knowledge, misunderstanding of what is expected, missing coordination and additional burdens due to the influx of the huge number of displaced Syrians in communities in the North and the Bekaa exacerbates the situation. 

The Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung in cooperation with the 'Women's Association of Dei El Ahmar - WADA' took the opportunity to conduct a workshop from 4th to 7th of February 2016 for improving dialogue and collaboration between representatives of the municipality and the local community to take action to manage and reduce the solid waste problem and to minimize the environmental impacts in Deir El Ahmar.

In light of the ongoing garbage crisis in Lebanon stakeholders, local activists and representatives from the Syrian community in Deir El Ahmar participated to address the issue and to find solutions for sorting household waste from the source, recycling and composting. Enhancing dialogue with the Syrian groups in the area to participate in the solid waste crisis solutions was an important goal of the workshop too.

During a field visit to sorting, plastic and paper recycling companies in Baalbeck and Zahleh the participants were able to acquire knowledge about recycling processes and they discussed possible cooperation.

An 'Action Plan' was developed as contribution to the Solid Waste Management Plan preparation including further steps and responsibilities of the different stakeholders to collaborate.