Show me the green

Over the past four years, the trash crisis whetted investors’ appetite to invest in waste management. Many waste sorting and composting facilities sprang up across the country, and while the demand is obvious, there is further opportunity in resolving efficiency and logistical challenges that hold the sector back. “Organizing the industry is a must,” said Oussama Hilbawi, General Manager of Lefico, a factory that has been producing recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) since 2004.

WE NEED IT

More than 4,000 tons of waste is generated every day, but only half is sorted and recycled. Beirut generates around 600 tons. “Recycling can, Co-founder of Cedar Environmental, a company that offers solid waste treatment solutions. Other than the environmental perspective, demand for the products of recycling is high. Clean PET flakes, created by recycling plastic bottles, is in demand, according to Abi Chaker. Compost used in agriculture is also in high demand as the country currently imports compost. Lebanon imported an average of 14 tons of compost per year from 2014 till 2018. Glass recycling is also needed. “The food production industry relies heavily on the glass industry. Why do we have to import food containers while the local glass industry is capable of supplying the demand?” said , Chairman of the Lebanese Industrialists Association. “The infrastructure and technical knowledge of the industry are available,” said , Assistant General Manager for Operations at Société Libanaise de Carton (Solicar).