Improving waste governance in Lebanon using systems thinking

Support for solid waste management (SWM) is part of the EU's environmental cooperation mandate with Lebanon. As waste issues touch on public health, environmental risk, social grievances, and governance, providing support to improved SWM is a priority area.

Since 2021, NIRAS has been providing technical assistance to the EU Delegation in Beirut to develop its position on the SWM sector. This has included support for policy dialogue with sector stakeholders and the drafting of policy briefs, technical notes and a strategic study to feed such dialogue.

The 'Waste Governance Technical Assistance Project' enabled the EU to have an updated bird's-eye view of the state of the SWM sector – which comprises municipal waste and special streams – especially after the crisis that rocked the country in 2019. It broke down challenges and identified enablers for updated SWM practices, which ultimately will lead toward fostering a circular economy. In addition, through the project, the EU has become more informed on the actual needs of the various communities and how to better communicate with them on improving SWM.

A key part of the project was a strategic study - Enablers for a sustainable SWM system in Lebanon - that analyses Lebanon’s waste management challenges and provides a framework for EU engagement in the sector. Its purpose was to help the EU define its policy and governance position in Lebanon’s solid waste sector and design targeted interventions for long-term sustainability.

The study found that Lebanon’s SWM system suffers from:

• Weak governance, overlapping mandates, and political interference.
• Poor data, fragmented planning, and lack of enforcement.
• Dependence on informal actors and unsustainable financing.
• Inadequate infrastructure, particularly treatment and landfilling capacity.
• Public distrust and limited willingness to pay for services.

Priority areas for support were grouped into three pillars.

1. Prerequisites

• Establish a national waste management agency.
• Approve and implement a national strategy and master plan.
• Enact a solid waste tax law and cost-recovery mechanisms.

2. Structural and functional reforms

• Build institutional capacity and enforce regulations.
• Promote waste diversion and citizen engagement.
• Redefine landfilling standards and post-closure plans.

3. Infrastructure and operational sustainability

• Upgrade and complete existing treatment facilities.
• Strengthen the recycling industry and environmental protection measures.

A way forward

The study concluded that Lebanon’s SWM system requires comprehensive reform driven by clear governance, reliable financing, and strengthened institutional capacity. It recommended the establishment of a dedicated national waste management agency to coordinate efforts and ensure policy continuity, supported by an approved national strategy, master plan, and circular economy roadmap. A robust cost recovery framework, including the ratification of a solid waste tax law, is essential to move away from ad hoc donor dependency and secure long-term financial sustainability.

The report further called for upgrading and completing existing treatment infrastructure, formalising and regulating the informal recycling sector, and enforcing environmental and social safeguards. Strengthening data systems, developing evidence-based decision-making tools, and promoting consistent awareness and communication campaigns will be critical to rebuild public trust and address resistance to new waste facilities. The report encouraged the EU to align its support with these priorities—focusing on policy dialogue, institutional strengthening, and scenario-based planning—to help Lebanon transition toward a circular, transparent, and sustainable solid waste management system.

As part of the strategic study, through field data collection and analysis, NIRAS talked to:

We also conducted multiple visits to informal recycling facilities: