Waste Problem in Lebanon

Lebanon is gaining global attention due to its inability to resolve trash crisis that it has faced for a couple of years. There has been a very insignificant effort that has been made to evaluate the impacts of garbage crisis on the environment as well as on the welfare of Lebanese. For that reason, the following paper will endeavor to explore the problems correlated with the garbage crisis, mitigation measures put in place by the government to address trash crisis. Additionally, the study will examine how garbage crisis is strongly associated with the lives of other people in other cities or nations. It is also good to note that the paper will analyze the growth of Lebanon that has contributed to the escalation of the garbage crisis in the entire country.

Lastly, there is municipal solid waste which arises due to trash or garbage that accumulates every day as a result of items discarded by consumers. Solid waste has been a challenge to the Lebanese government since the accumulation rate of trash has been growing at an alarming rate. It is estimated that more than 80% of the solid waste that is collected in Lebanon are generated by households, hotels, restaurants, commercial businesses such as street markets and several other domestic activities (Tamraz et al. Over 86% of the accumulated municipal trash is dumped in the sanitary landfills as well as open dumps. However, the number of clean and accessible dumps have not been adequate to hold the significant volume of trash that is generated every day.

The continuous exposure the waste can make the Lebanese to suffer from various health complications, and for that reason, formulation of effective and sustainable waste management strategies is a significant undertaking. Hung, et al. , (112) also asserted that the entire public could even be subjected to radioactive material that is usually contained in the medical waste. The unconcealed to Lebanon's sea by the government will impact negatively to the ecosystem and various maritime species together with their natural habitats. According to McCornack, (45) the fractured particles of waste can be swallowed by fish and several other sea creatures which have a high potential to harm the health of Lebanese in case they consume the infected fish. The government has also invested in a vigorous training and awareness campaign that is intended to train the nationals on the importance of two bag trash sorting system.

Waste sorting and management entails sorting the waste by organic and non-organics. Finally, laws have been enacted and enforced so that to make people accountable and encourage adherence to the stipulated waste management practices. Besides the efforts of the government to tackle waste management crisis, some environmental activists such as "You Stink Group" have been raising awareness on the dangers that are associated with open burning especially to the nearby residents. The activists have enlightened the general public on conservation measures that they can use to reduce the volume of wastes that households generate. Poor waste management practices in some countries such as Lebanon affects the lifestyles and activities of people in other nations and cities adversely since people are predisposed to detrimental health hazards.