DAILY SCOPE: Waste Management Crisis Still Unresolved

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Iran-Russia Initiatives Fever Takes al-Mouallem to Oman

Nuclear Settlement Reaps Fruits...Syria?

AL-AKHBAR:

Qahwaji's Term Extension: Towards Major Crisis

AN-NAHAR:

One Year Extension for Military Leaderships

AN-NAHAR:

‘Promise' to Export Wastes, Electricity Crisis Increasing

Lebanese newspapers on Thursday tackled the different issues related to the Lebanese cabinet, including the waste management crisis, the electricity crisis, the extension of top army officials' terms and the ongoing dialogue to resolve the presidential impasse.

Terms of Top Military Official in Lebanon Extended --- AL-AKHBAR

Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel has extended the terms of the army commander, the chief of staff and the head of the Higher Defense Council, said al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday. Moqbel took the decision to make the one-year extension late Wednesday after the cabinet failed to resolve the controversial issue of the appointment of high-ranking military and security officials.

Army chief of staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman was due to retire Friday, whilst Army Chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's term ends on Sept. 23.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, FPM sources said the movement had no information about such a move because rival officials were still holding consultations to reach a settlement on the appointments.

"The extension will be met with more escalatory measures. Aoun will not back off," the sources told al-Akhbar.

Hizbullah, Future Party Support Waste Export, Discuss Other Issues --- AL-LIWAA

Sources revealed to al-Liwaa newspaper that in a meeting between Hizbullah and the Future party, the two major political groups in the country, the conferees showed consensus on a few issues including the waste management crisis, and the exceptional parliamentary sessions.

According to the source, both sides expressed support to exporting wastes, in a move that would solve the crisis in Lebanon. The conferees discussed the matter thoroughly. Yet, informed sources said despite the optimism and even though different issues were discussed, no actual result was achieved.

Moreover, al-Liwaa reported that during the ministerial session on Wednesday, the issue of exporting solid wastes was a focal point of discussion, as all sides agreed to the obstacles included in this solution.

According to the source, some of the difficulties include the fact that Lebanon does not have any cargo ships to transfer the wastes because all ships have been reserved for months from now, not to mention that most European ministers are currently on vacation, and the required European criteria for waste export, which does not apply to Lebanon, because waste sorting becomes very difficult after 48 hours of dumping it on the streets.

Drifts of un-recycled rubbish had piled up on Beirut's streets due to the closure of the city's landfill on July 17th. Although smothered in white powder, the rotting rubbish stank, attracted flies, mice and rats, and was a serious health hazard at a time when tourists and tens of thousands of Lebanese expatriates flooded the country.

The existing landfill is full to capacity; nothing has been done to develop new sites, and villagers living in mountainous areas reject the creation of new landfills in their neighborhoods. The Beirut municipality has called on the government to authorize the hiring of specialized firms to dispose of the waste abroad.

Waste Export May Be Not Possible -- AL-BINAA

Al-Binaa newspaper obtained information on the waste management dossier, noting that Romanian companies have offered to cooperate with the Lebanese government to help treat the wastes so that they can be exported to European countries and be used as fuel for generating electricity and energy.

According to the paper, Environment Minister Mohammad al-Mashnouq suggested burning the wastes in the meantime, as a temporary solution until a final solution is reached.

Also, the paper said that the solution of exporting wastes abroad is not a serious one, and that foreign companies are not ready for such a process, especially since the required criteria is absent, which prevents the process from taking place.

Ministerial sources had told As-Safr newspaper earlier this week that "It is very difficult for Lebanon to stick to the delicate standards set by the European Union, which would enable Lebanon to export its wastes, noting that the EU determines certain standards when it comes to the technical details such as waste sorting, cargo, the type of wastes, and the percentage of water in these wastes, which increases the complexity of the export process.

The smell of rotting garbage became worse with rising temperatures amid an unprecedented heat wave striking Lebanon and neighboring countries. Officials then started to study the possibility of exporting the waste, with German, French, and Swedish companies expressing interest.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team