17 activists were present at the Normandy dumpsite. 2 banners saying “Cabinet - Beware of Boueiz’s strategy” in English and Arabic and another showing a death sign on the infamous dumpsite incinerator were unfurled. The activists that were holding the death sign banner were mistreated by workers on the site. The dumpsite symbolizes the past failure of the government to address the waste issue in too costly a manner with deadly so-called solutions such as the incinerator operating at the site.

Greenpeace Mediterranean’s Toxics campaigner in Lebanon, Wael Hmaidan said: “The strategy elaborated by the Minister of Environment still allows incineration despite Lebanese and international laws expressedly banning it!(1) It also neglects the prominent factors of consumer and producer responsibilities in generating the waste stream”.

The Waste crisis has been raging throughout the country for the last five months at least, with an array of solution initiatives, the latest being the proposal of establishing a killer incinerator for Beirut’s waste, accepted by the Minister of Environment himself which is on today’s cabinet agenda. Ironically, he also acknowledged it is polluting and hazardous for the health and the environment.

Greenpeace warns the cabinet of passing the strategy without amendment, as it would allow other Normandy-like situations and will reopen bids for incinerators around the country.

Instead, the proper strategy would place a total ban on incineration (2) and lead eventually to a “Zero Waste” implementation, which could be reached in Lebanon by 2025. Therefore, the government should follow 3 essential steps:
-First, the cabinet should adopt a “Zero Waste” strategy, aiming at eliminating the need for landfills by 2025.
-Second, the government should secure public participation in building a waste management law and plan. This can be accomplished by forming a “Higher Council for Waste Management”; that includes, in addition to the official institutes, representatives from the private sector (especially from NGOs and the industrial sector).
-Third, the “Higher Council for Waste Management” should develop and implement a complete waste management plan that is reviewed and adjusted regularly..(3)


Notes:
(1) Lebanese Law # 432, July 2002, is a ratification of the Stockholm convention which will enter into force 90 days after the 50th country, France ratified it on February 18, 2004


(2) Suggestions for further reading:
Incinerators: the “Cancer Factories”
Anti-incineration laws from around the world

(3) A report about the Zero Waste concept and implementation is available at the Greenpeace office.

For inquiries and details, please contact:
Wael Hmaidan, Toxics Campaigner, Greenpeace Mediterranean – Lebanon, Tel: 009613755100, Fax: 009611755664, email: gp.med@greenpeace.org.lb