Mashnouq Adamant to Implement his Plan as Garbage Piles Up

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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.

Comments 7
Thumb saturn 21 July 2015, 10:10

US 60 bn in public debt and there isn't even proper waste disposal, let alone a recycling facility. Is nobody ashamed?

Missing humble 21 July 2015, 10:27

Trash the politicians...

Thumb mouallek 21 July 2015, 16:19

Timeo danaos et dona ferentes!

Thumb mouallek 21 July 2015, 16:21

Your avatar suits you blablablablablablabla you dont need to post comments post only your avatar !

Thumb barrymore 21 July 2015, 19:08

if and when I read blablablabla comments I am always floored by his shallowness!

Thumb mouallek 21 July 2015, 16:58

J'ai lu quelque part qu'il existe un projet pour équiper les toilettes de fermenteurs de merde pour produire du méthane si les récupérateurs de pets ne suffisent pas. L'idée serait de remplacer Naameh par Rabieh. Le fermenteur est là et pourrait ainsi être utile à la Nation..

Default-user-icon Ant-Brain washed minds – Wake-up call (Guest) 22 July 2015, 09:25

No wonder we can't deal with our own garbage, if we are still politicizing even this matter even though it affects every single citizen in this country. March 8 or March 14, including all the political parties involved … it doesn’t matter. Stop reciting what your “leaders” keep on saying without thinking of its consequences.
It’s time to wake up my dears and start “recycling” our thoughts and biased opinions before we discuss other matters for the country’s development.
It’s a real shame to see such comments here that are even more disgusting than the nasty garbage on the streets!
Think about the solutions and act upon them instead of throwing the blame on each other. We are all part of this.