The Waste Crisis Lecture at Beirut Arab University

Under the Patronage of the President of Beirut Arab University Professor Amr Galal El Adawi, the Public Relations Administration organised a lecture presented by the Mayor of Beirut Municipal Council Engineer Jamal Itani under the title of “The Waste Crises in Beirut” in the presence of HE Saad Hariri represented by his Consultant Dr. Ammar Houri, MP Nicolas Sahnawi represented by Engineer Paul Najem, Minister Ghassan Atallah represented by Dr. Jihad Abboud, President of the Order of Physiotherapists in Lebanon represented by Dr. Ibtissam Saab, Head of the North Lebanon Bar Association Mohammad Morad represented by Mrs. Rana Jamal, Faculty Deans, members of the Municipal Council as well as representatives of civil society and environmental associations.

The event started with the Lebanese and BAU Anthems whereby, Director of the Public Relations Administration Ms. Zina Ariss spoke of “the suffering of Beirut and the challenges and difficulties it is facing, starting with the chronic electricity problem, traffic chaos, infringements on marine property, and the risk of contaminated water.” Ariss continued, “Today’s topic is far more critical and profound as it affects public health and safety: the risk of the return of the waste crisis to Beirut.”

Mayor Itani reviewed the list of the civil and environmental development projects to be carried out by the municipality, including waste management solutions based on sorting at the source to reduce the amount of waste to the last process of sorting and treatment in the laboratory and finally to the process of thermal disintegration.

The Mayor continued, "The proposed Thermal Disintegration Plant in Beirut is of the sixth generation. Europe has more than 500 similar plants,” referring to a wide range of standards, controls, fly ash disposal, and the possibility of generating 18 megawatts from waste to meet electricity needs of the people of Beirut.”

He also revealed that the municipality has developed a plan to implement more than 15 vital projects, five of which will be accomplished early summer this year, including parking lots and public parks. As for the issue of electricity, a list of conditions has been set to provide Beirut with 200 megawatts to compensate for the deficit.

Mayor Itani praised the ongoing cooperation with the Governor of Beirut, HE Judge Ziad Shebib and the security forces headed by General Director of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces Major General Imad Osman to alleviate the traffic congestion crisis in Beirut and remove the blocks of cement and any other obstacles that impede traffic in Hamra.

However, the Mayor and the Municipality Council were briefed about proposals presented by Beirut Arab University regarding the development of Tarik Al Jadeedah area and the improvement of its roads and sidewalks.