12.2.4.Policies around use minimisation of plastic 

The Lebanese University reduces the production of garbage and reduces food losses along the production and supply chains in order to improve the performance of all staff, faculty and students. In this regard, the Lebanese University hosts government policies regarding minimization around use minimization of plastic 

Lebanon has a population of 5.6 million people in 2013 that produces 2,040,000 tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) per year. While the composition of the wastes is in majority organic (exceeding 50 %; this percentage varying between urban and rural areas, as well as between summer and winter, paper/cardboards and plastics constitute a significant proportion, with glass and metal contributing largely too. High moisture content is also prevalent in wastes, often exceeding 60%. It is considered that the MSW generation per capita varies from around 0.7 Kg/p/d in rural areas to around 0.85 to 1.1 Kg/p/d in urban areas, with a national weighted average estimated at around 0.95 Kg/p/d. The foreseen increase in waste generation is estimated at an average of 1.65% across the country; this growth is however highly unevenly distributed. Almost all of the MSW generated in Lebanon is collected by public or private haulers (99% in rural areas, 100% in urban); however, management varies from one area to another: 8% is recycled, 15% is composted (several treatment plants already constructed will be put in operation soon, hence increasing percentage), 51% is landfilled and 26% is disposed of in open dumps. For the management of Municipal Solid Waste - SWM there are two specific legal instruments: Decree 8735 of 1974 assigns solid waste management as a municipal responsibility, and Decree 9093 of 2002 provides municipalities with an incentive to house a management facility for waste. The remaining elements of The legal framework provide authority for entities to act with respect to municipal solid waste or address other types of waste. The Lebanese University brings in compliance with these instruments for around use minimization of plastic.

Solid waste

Initiative to Reach Zero Waste at the Faculty of Public Health - Branch 2.

On January 15, 2019, the students at the Lebanese University - Faculty of Public Health (branch 2) began, three years ago, the initiative of proper management of generated waste after being surrounded by rotten and burning trash. They are sorting today for recycling and composting in the campus aiming not to add to the hundred thousand tons dumped in our nature and to reach the path towards Zero Waste. 

Successful waste management plans require accurate data about the nature and composition of waste. Despite the high content of organic (52%) and recyclable (37 %) materials in waste stream, only 8% and 15% of solid waste are recycled and composted respectively. Unfortunately, 48% of the waste are disposed in sanitary landfills. Dumping of waste and open burning is predominant outside Beirut and Mount Lebanon. Adequate treatment is unavailable for wastes produced by slaughterhouses, industrial premises and healthcare centers. Corruption, lack of human resources and suitable facilities and inadequate technical skills are responsible for inefficient municipal solid waste management. This paper aims at determining the current practices of municipalities in terms of segregation, collection, treatment and final disposal of solid waste. It also considers key policy challenges and recommendations for improving the municipal solid waste management system.  

COUNTRY REPORT ON THE SOLID MANAGEMENT IN LEBANON 

Lebanon has a population of 5.6 million people in 2013 that produces 2,040,000 tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) per year. While the composition of the wastes is in majority organic (exceeding 50 %; this percentage varying between urban and rural areas, as well as between summer and winter, paper/cardboards and plastics constitute a significant proportion, with glass and metal contributing largely too. High moisture content is also prevalent in wastes, often exceeding 60%. It is considered that the MSW generation per capita varies from around 0.7 Kg/p/d in rural areas to around 0.85 to 1.1 Kg/p/d in urban areas, with a national weighted average estimated at around 0.95 Kg/p/d. The foreseen increase in waste generation is estimated at an average of 1.65% across the country; this growth is however highly unevenly distributed.

Almost all of the MSW generated in Lebanon is collected by public or private haulers (99% in rural areas,100% in urban); however, management varies from one area to another: 8% is recycled, 15% is composted (several treatment plants already constructed will be put in operation soon, hence increasing percentage), 51% is landfilled and 26% is disposed of in open dumps.