Disappearing manhole covers in Lebanon are now being replaced by upcycled plastic ones to close open holes across the country's roads, thanks to a personal initiative by Lebanese environmental engineer Ziad Abi Chaker.
The economy's collapse in Lebanon has brought a shift in robberies including stealing manhole covers, as thieves sell the cast iron for $100 each, more than Lebanon's monthly minimum wage. The missing covers were noticed across the country, sometimes causing accidents.
"These (covers) have been stolen because their value at the scrap market has become high. Plastic doesn't have a high value," explained Abi Chaker, who took it upon himself to replace them by cheaper options that won't get stolen and benefit the environment.
Based in a factory in Lebanon's mountains, Abi Chaker and a team of workers use single-use plastic waste which they grind, mold, shape and put together into drain covers.
According to the environmental engineer, between 1,000 and 1,200 manhole covers were stolen. Speed and funding are obstacles he is facing to replace them all, but he is not planning to stop.
"We will surely continue because we are using our own money. We definitely can't fund 1,000 covers but that doesn't mean we will stop. If we can produce 10 covers per week, because there's no funding, we will do 10 covers," he said, adding they are planning to start an online funding page for the project.
This is not Abi Chaker's first environmental initiative that addresses Lebanon's problems. Following last year's blast, he started transforming glass shattered across Beirut into jugs, jars and other glassware.
Abi Chaker believes Lebanon's worst financial crisis in decades will force people to shift to "eco-friendly" solutions and go "for cheaper things, for recycled and reusable things."