A relatively remote Lebanese town has rid itself of the bureaucratic clutches of the government and its management company, Sukleen, and is now leading the way in terms of waste management. Yes, Barja -alongside Aramoun and Arab Salim- is now the country’s latest exception when it comes to the garbage crisis overtaking Lebanon.
Barja Mayor Nachaat Hamiyeh -who in previous interviews said the town had been anticipating the closure of the Naameh landfill and hence forging solutions- has not only stopped authorities from opening a landfill in the said town, but is now managing its waste and, yes, recycling.
Speaking to LBCI, Hamiyeh stressed that the people need not fear the government’s policies, adding “there are ways to deal with waste without having to resort to Sukleen or other private companies”.
And guess what? It’s working and brilliantly I may add, albeit slowly and quite primitively, but the facts remains constant:
1- Barja is proactively pushing to regain municipal authority over municipal funds systematically designated for waste management.
2- Barja is generating money for the municipality through the sale of recyclable waste material.
3- Barja’s streets are clean, healthy and bureaucracy free, in terms of garbage at least.
Watch the full interview here:
Here’s how you can turn your Trash To Cash.
Step 1:
Separate your organic waste from all inorganic material. Place papers among all organic waste in a BLACK bag. This will help in the absorption of leachate (garbage liquid) that would otherwise seep into the country’s water reserves if not properly treated and disposed of.
Step 2:
Place all plastics and cans in another BLUE bag. Crush bottles in order to create space; the more weight, the more cash!
Step 3:
Get involved, lobby alongside your municipalities! Heads of municipalities are being pressured into accepting the government’s terms and conditions pertaining to the extension of Sukleen’s contract for the next 20 years –by letting garbage accumulate for days without end within residential areas with no account for the health of citizens.
It is only when mayors and town officials feel the pressure of the people’s power that change will come about. They cannot do it alone.
Step 4: Once you have the municipality on your side, trucks can then be allocated to transport the separated trash to Baabda where TerreLiban is located and where your trash will be bought for cash.
It’s time to clean up Lebanon, by cleaning up ourselves, one step at a time.