Mikati at Solid Waste Management Strategy Launch: We will have a president tomorrow
Wednesday, Jan 08, 2025
NNA – Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Wednesday announced Lebanon's "National Strategy for Integrated Solid Waste Management", ratified by the Cabinet on December 17, 2024. During the event at the Grand Serail, Mikati expressed optimism for the election of a new president, signaling hope for political stability.
The launch ceremony, attended by Environment Minister Nasser Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Al-Shami, EU Chargé d’Affaires Sami Saadeh, and UNDP Resident Representative Blerta Aliko, highlighted the collaboration between government bodies, municipalities, and international organizations.
In his address, Mikati expressed optimism about the imminent election of a new president. "For the first time since the presidential vacuum began, I feel joy. God willing, we will have a new President of the Republic tomorrow," he stated during the event held at the Grand Serail.
Mikati addressed the challenges plaguing Lebanon's waste management sector. "Lebanon's solid waste management sector has faced immense challenges over the decades, compounded by successive crises. We all remember the acute waste crisis of 2015, and the situation has worsened with Lebanon’s severe financial downturn. While it might have been easy for our government to surrender to the status quo and allow the waste sector to collapse, we chose responsibility. Through the Ministry of Environment and other concerned administrations, we worked to implement urgent reforms, enhance governance within the sector, improve infrastructure, and promote waste recovery and recycling efforts."
Detailing the government’s achievements, Mikati said: "We activated legal frameworks related to solid waste management, launched the national strategy for integrated waste management alongside its strategic environmental and social assessment, and prepared the master plan for integrated solid waste management."
Moreover, the PM highlighted the establishment of a regulatory body. "By creating the National Authority for Solid Waste Management, we ensured the effective implementation of integrated waste management. A decree regulating the authority—covering its structure, appointments, staffing, salaries, and operational guidelines—was prepared, approved by the Council of Ministers, and reviewed by the State Council and the Civil Service Board,” Mikati said.
"The steps we’ve taken lay the groundwork for reorganizing the sector based on integrated management principles and sustainability. None of this would have been possible without the tireless efforts of Minister Nasser Yassin, whom I commend today. I also extend my gratitude to international organizations, agencies, and the youth who supported reforms,” Mikati added as emphasizing the foundational nature of these reforms.
In turn, Minister Yassin elaborated on the strategy’s framework, which includes enhancing infrastructure, engaging local communities and the private sector, and implementing cost-recovery mechanisms.
The Environment Minister underscored the importance of decentralization, the polluter-pays principle, and waste-to-resource conversion. Yassin also introduced proposed service zones covering regions from Akkar to Bekaa.
Dr. Diana Fadel, of the Waste Diversion Management Consortium highlighted grassroots efforts in waste reduction, citing successful projects like Hazmieh’s composting and recycling program as scalable models.
World Bank representative, Maria Sarraf, praised the strategy as a pivotal environmental milestone, supported by initiatives such as rehabilitating sorting facilities and establishing sanitary landfills. Meanwhile, EU envoy Sami Saadeh stressed the strategy's potential to drive economic recovery by fostering a circular economy.
In turn, UNDP’s Blerta Aliko noted the strategy’s resilience despite economic and political setbacks, advocating for data-driven policymaking to ensure effective implementation.
The event concluded with a presentation to Mikati of a map showcasing Lebanon's protected natural areas, symbolizing a commitment to environmental stewardship.