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Support to DG Environment for development of the Mediterranean De-pollution Initiative “HORIZON 2020”

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5.5 Lebanon

Lebanon is located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Syria to the north and east, and by Israel to the south. The terrain is a narrow coastal plain. Around 3.9 million people (July 2006) live in Lebanon. The country has six administrative regions, called Mohafazas (governorates), which are further sub-divided into 25 districts, called Cazas, not including Beirut. Each Caza is made up of several cadastral zones. In total, there are 1,492 cadastral zones. The Bekaa is the largest Mohafaza, followed by the North and Mount Lebanon. Most of the population is resident on the coastal zone which is characterized by being very narrow and comprised between the west mountainous chain and the sea. Around 1.5 million people live in the region known as Greater Beirut. Other major cities are Tripoli (250,000), Saida (80,000), Zahle (80,000) and Tyre (30,000).

Lebanese economy is oriented towards the service sector including banking, tourism, and transit. Lebanon’s three major coastal cities, Beirut, Saida and Tripoli, are engaged predominantly in commerce due to their location on the seafront and the presence of seaports. Lebanese industry is located in Mount-Lebanon as well as in the cities of Beirut and Tripoli, and several industries on the coastal strip in North Lebanon. Most industries are not heavy manufacturing plants.

Environmental concerns include deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, air pollution in Beirut, and pollution of coastal waterways. Urban and industrial pollution remains one of the main environmental challenges.

Wastewater management is considered a high priority issue in all the administrative regions. Raw sewage generated from residential and industrial areas is discharged directly to the sea or to inland watercourses without treatment prior to disposal. Evidences of costal and river water quality degradation and marine ecosystem damage were proved through several studies conducted in Lebanon. To date, while significant improvements are being made to the sewerage network, little has been achieved in terms of wastewater treatment.

Solid waste management has also been inefficient over the past years. With the exception of the extended Greater Beirut Area, and to a lesser extent of Greater Tripoli, solid waste continues to be managed in a manner that poses significant pressure to human health and environment. Uncontrolled dumping sites are sources of heavy metals and other priority pollutants, as well as litter. The dumping sites of Normandy (Beirut) and Bourj Hammoud (Mount Lebanon) have been closed and are in remediation process, but similar actions are needed for other seafront dumps.

The fact that most of the industrial activity is located at the vicinity of cities (Beirut, Tripoli, Chekka, and Zouk) gives a rise to air pollution problems in the areas. Pollution from industrial effluents is also a concern for North, Mount Lebanon and South Lebanon regions.


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5.5.1 Major sources of pollution from urban wastewater, municipal solid waste and industrial emissions

5.5.1.1 Urban wastewater

Municipal wastewater management is the major environmental priority of Lebanese authorities. The country generates an estimate of 250 million m3 of sewage annually, in most cases with no proper control or treatment prior to disposal. According to the CAS Census of Buildings and Establishment in 1998, less than 60% of dwellings have access to public sewage networks. Beirut has the highest rate of connection to sewage network (98.3%), followed by Beirut suburbs (89.3%) and well behind the North (53.5%), the South (42.1%) and Bekaa (41.1%), while Mount Lebanon has the lowest rate (33.9%). The remaining areas either use the traditional household sanitary pits or the method of draining wastewater into boreholes in bedrock. Since 1998, extensive developments to wastewater infrastructure have been made, which have probably improved greatly the collection capacity.

In the nearly absence of wastewater treatment plants, effluents from coastal urban areas are discharged into the sea, while effluents from inland areas are discharged in rivers, streams, on open land or underground. According to the State of the Environment Report (SOE) prepared in 2001, there are approximately 53 (mostly short) outfalls along the coast, 16 of which are located between Dbayeh (North of Beirut) and Ghadir (South of Beirut).

As a result, the urban effluents are considered the number one priority for remedial action due to their multiple negative impacts on the public health and the environment. A programme for wastewater management is in place (NERP), setting as goal the connection of nearly 80% of the population to major sewage treatment plants, 113 in total, by 2020. Of these, 35 ‘priority’ plants, 12 on the coast and 23 inland, are planned to be operational by 2010 to serve the population in and around the main urban centres. Whilst the country is in the process of implementing actions for the metropolitan areas, it still lacks an integrated water and wastewater management scheme as villages and mountainous regions are left without any wastewater abatement solutions.

North Lebanon Sewage management in the North is almost inexistent. The bulk of sewage generated from residential (and industrial) areas is discharged in streams or directly into the sea via 15 short sea outfalls without prior treatment. Hotspot areas include (from North to South) Al Abdeh, Tripoli, Enfeh, Chekka and Selaata.

Beirut Since 1992, after the initiation of NERP programme, sewage management has been improved considerably in Beirut. At present, Beirut does not have a sewer problem; sewage networks cover most parts of the city and converge along three principal collectors. Two coastal collectors drain the largest portion of the network and extend to one existing WWTP south of Beirut (Ghadir) and one planned WWTP north of Beirut (Dora), both situated in the Mount Lebanon Administrative Region. The Ghadir WWTP, south of Beirut, is operational but provides only preliminary treatment. The Dora WWTP north of Beirut has not been built yet and therefore the collectors remain idle. There are at least four sea outfalls along Beirut’s coastline: Ramlet el Baida, Carlton Hotel, Ras Beirut and Ain Mreiseh areas. These outfalls are situated near popular leisure and tourist attractions including the most highly frequented public beach (Ramlet el Baida) and beachfront boulevard (Raouche) in Beirut. The southern section of the Beirut collector, still under construction, will measure 9 km long with two pumping stations and will serve approximately 784,000 inhabitants.

Mount Lebanon Mount Lebanon generates 48% of total wastewater which is discharged to the sea without any kind of pre-treatment. The area is served with several sea outfalls, including domestic (5), industrial (15) and river mouths (3). All the outfalls release raw sewage straight into the Mediterranean. Sewage is usually also disposed of in streams and rivers across the Governorate.


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South Lebanon According to the National Diagnostic Analysis of UNEP/MAP (NDA, 2003), the South generates 11.8% of the total amount of domestic wastewater in Lebanon. The last year a preliminary wastewater treatment plant was built in Saida to serve the greater Saida area, equipped with a 2.6 km submersed sea outfall that provides more effective dilution of sewage. In the Abbasiyeh area in Sour's southern suburbs, a new WWTP (secondary treatment level) is planned to serve the Sour catchments area.

Saida is bordered by the Ghazieh industrial area where several tanneries, chemical industries and slaughter houses discharge their effluents directly to the sea. Similarly, Sour hosts the Bourj el Chemalli industrial area in addition to many sewage outlets. Sour also has five sea outlets the sea.

5.5.1.2 Municipal solid waste

According to the State of Environment Report in 2001, Lebanon generates approximately 1.44 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually. Waste collection coverage is generally high, reaching or exceeding 95% of the population in both rural and urban settings. The quality of collection varies widely, however, in rural areas where contractors may not have the skills or equipment to effectively collect waste and municipalities do not have adequate enforcement capacity.

With the exception of the extended Greater Beirut Area, and to a lesser extent in Greater Tripoli, the management of MSW is generally disorganized and consists of controlled dumping of waste in coastal dumps (Tripoli, Saida, Sour) or uncontrolled dumping and burning in various inland dumpsites and river valleys, with collection mainly carried out by municipalities.

Lebanon has yet to make serious policy commitments to promoting, and eventually requiring, sustainable and environmentally friendly SWM practices throughout the country.

The major hot spot areas resulting from the solid waste sector that has a significant impact on the Mediterranean are the still existent costal dumpsites and the untreated leachate from the Naemeh landfill discharged into the sea through the Ghadir long sea outfall.

North Lebanon Although municipal solid waste services have been improved significantly in Tripoli and other coastal cities in the North, solid waste continues to be dumped in uncontrolled seafront landfills (Tripoli), on beaches (Akkar coastal plain) or inland. The Tripoli site is by far the largest seafront dumpsite receiving municipal solid waste from an estimated 400,000 people. The dumpsite has in recent years been upgraded and partially rehabilitated (a seawall was erected to contain the site), but continues to be a source of pollution in the form of leachate and benthic litter.

Beirut Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Beirut is the most organized system in the country so far, though not integrated. Since 1997, the system has been implemented pursuant to CDR’s Emergency Plan for SWM in the Greater Beirut Area (Decision No.58 dated January 1997). The plan was executed by Sukkar Engineering Group (Sukomi and Sukleen subsidiaries), a Lebanese waste management contractor, and called for refurbishing the Quarantina composting site and closing the Borj Hammoud dumpsite. The contracts with the Sukkar group of companies included waste collection, treatment, landfilling and street sweeping. Unfortunately, eight years into their contract, waste recovery remains well below targets, especially with regard to recycling and composting. For example, according to a regional project under the MedPolicies Initiative of the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme METAP III, Beirut generates 12% of the total MSW stream in Lebanon, of which only 5% are recycled, 15% are composted and the remaining 80% are landfilled in Naameh, about 20 km south of Beirut, in Mount Lebanon. Lower levels of recycling and composting have drastically reduced the projected lifetime of the sanitary landfill built under the plan.

The Normandy seafront dumpsite, the only waste disposal site in Beirut during the war and the largest dumpsite in Lebanon, was permanently closed in 1995; an on-going rehabilitation project will


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decontaminate and stabilize the site, and will result in more than 100 hectares of reclaimed lands earmarked for public use and real estate

Mount Lebanon Waste disposal at the Naameh landfill began in October 1997. The site, located 3-4 km inland, receives daily about 1,800 tonnes of MSW, well over its original design capacity – more than 4.5 million m3 so far. It generates about 250 tonnes of leachate per day (about 90,000 tonnes annually) that are pre-treated on site (liming and agitation) and then trucked to the Ghadir WWTP (preliminary treatment only). The leachate is mixed with raw sewage and then discharged into the sea via a submersible sea outfall. Such quantities represent at last 40% of the leachate produced by Lebanon’s landfills and dumpsites. The Bourj Hammoud dumpsite (closed since July 1997) releases an estimated 120,000 tonnes of leachate annually corresponding to more than half the leachate produced by three major coastal dumpsites in Lebanon (Tripoli, Borj Hammoud and Normandy). The Borj Hammoud dumpsite has been covered with topsoil to control blowing waste.

South Lebanon According to the National Diagnostic Analysis of UNEP/MAP (NDA, 2003), the South generates 12.1% of the total municipal solid waste of the country. The municipality of Saida has awarded a local waste contractor (NTCC) for waste collection and disposal at the dumpsite. Although still operational, there are serious calls to close the dumpsite. It is unclear whether any future closure plan can also relocate the dump to another site, as demanded by local authorities and residents. In Sour, a municipal compost/recycling facility is currently under construction; it will serve all the communities, who currently use the dumpsite that is expected to close in 2006-7.

5.5.1.3 Industrial emissions

According to the State of Environment Report (SoE) in 2001, about half of the industrial plants are located in Mount Lebanon and one-fifth in North Lebanon. Sixty-five percent of industries are located on the coastline, which also holds the highest rate of population growth. The majority (82%) is located outside industrial zones (MoI, 2000). While the existing industrial zones are poorly equipped to host industrial settlements (e.g. waste collection and treatment), such infrastructure is completely lacking outside industrial zones causing severe environmental pressures. Moreover, many industrial zones were established de facto and are presently being decreed even though they are located close to residential areas or natural sites, posing severe risks to public health and environment. In the absence of specific industrial pollution control services and infrastructure:

- Industrial solid waste is usually co-disposed with the municipal waste stream; - Industrial wastewater, approximately 12% of the total wastewater (urban and industrial), is

discharged to the urban sewerage system; - Industrial air emissions may affect nearby residential communities; areas mostly affected are those

near the industrial plants of Selaata (fertilizers), Chekka and Sibline (cement).

Recognizing the need to abate industrial pollution, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) has initiated several efforts to introduce effective industrial pollution control regulations and command and control mechanisms.

North Lebanon Industrial pollution control management is ineffective in most sectors and is exacerbated by the lack of effective auditing procedures, compliance monitoring and enforcement, as well as skills and know-how in cleaner production. The industries located in the coastal zone have a major impact on the marine environment. Most of industrial effluents ends up untreated to the sea. Limited data on industrial waste generation in the North are available, whilst the usual management method is co-disposal with municipal solid wastes in open dumps. The most significant source of industrial waste in North Lebanon originates from the Lebanon Chemical Company; a fertilizer plant releasing an estimated 300,000 of gypsum into the sea in a slurry form.


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Beirut Industrial pollution in Beirut is not significant in comparison with industrial activities in other parts of the country (Beirut hosts only 10-12% of industrial units in Lebanon). The largest industrial branch in Beirut is food and beverages with a total of 720 industrial units. None of these units have in-house wastewater treatment or pre-treatment capabilities. As a result, wastewater is discharged untreated to the urban sewer system.

Mount Lebanon Mount Lebanon generates over two-thirds of the total industrial wastewater and has the highest proportion of industrial wastewaters in the overall wastewater stream (21%). Industrial effluents from power plants, tanneries, pesticides, plastics and chemical industries reach the sea either directly or via the urban sewer system. Additionally, industrial waste is usually disposed off without pre-treatment. Hotspots include the Valley of Nahr Ibrahim, the Zouk and Dora industrial areas.

South Lebanon To date, there is an absence of a management strategy for industrial pollution in the south. According to the State of Environment Report in 2001, the South generates about 4% of the total industrial wastewater. South Lebanon is ranked the highest region for discharging spent oils. Collection and reuse of waste oils is as low as 34%. The remaining (66%) is disposed off in nearby steams, sewer system or land. No data is available towards the portion of waste oils discharged in streams and sewer systems.

5.5.2 Institutional setting

The Council of Ministers (CoM) holds executive authority and can endorse new decrees (as well as projects/programmes). It has a pivotal role in the planning and/or facilitation of several pollution control actions.

The Ministry of Environment (MoE) was established in 1993 (Law 216/93) and reformed lately in 2005 (Law 690/2005) to empower its mandate to preserve the environment and strengthen decentralisation. Its general duties are to formulate a general environmental policy and propose measures for its implementation in coordination with the various concerned government administrations, to protect the natural and man-made environments in the interests of public health and welfare, and to fight pollution by taking preventive and remedial action. The ultimate long-term objectives of MoE are summarized below: - Prepare the appropriate legislative framework to enforce environmental practices. - Initiate working plans and programmes setting the accurate indicators and standards in

environmentally-affected sectors (private and public). - Launching public awareness campaigns through core academic curricula and through the different

audio-visual media. - Impose application of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on vital developmental projects,

and substitute problematic plans with environmentally friendly ones. - Empower local NGOs' role in the civil society.

Four general policy principles have been set: 1. Regionally balanced development; 2. Protection through prevention; 3. The Polluter Pays Principle; and 4. Integration of environmental policies into other Sectoral development policies.

Several priority actions require direct MoE involvement to ensure timely implementation and consensus building with other line ministries.

Line Ministries, local authorities and other stakeholders are responsible for implementation, including the following among others: from the government: the Ministry of Energy and Hydraulic Resources (MEHR), the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT), the Ministry of Industry


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(MoI), the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), and the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR); non-governmental bodies such as the National Council for Scientific Research, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Lebanese and American Universities; and more than fifty NGOs working in the social, health, development, business fields, etc., among which are the Lebanese Environment Forum, the Green Forum, the Association for Forest Development and Conservation, the Green Line, the Society for the Protection of Nature, and the Association of Lebanese Industrialists.

Two key government agencies are called to play important roles in sector-specific interventions: the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the Directorate General for Urban Planning.

The Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) is a public institution established in 1977. It reports directly to the Council of Ministers and is the lead agency in charge of national planning and infrastructure project design and implementation in all sectors. Almost 85% of foreign funds earmarked for reconstruction transit through CDR. The council can bypass ministries to fast-track projects as necessary.

The General Directorate of Urban Planning (DGUP) falls under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT). Its mandate (Decree 10490) is to develop regulations and organize urban development. It defines urban master plans and issues building permits for municipalities that do not have a municipal council or an engineering department (this includes most of the municipalities in Lebanon except Beirut, Tripoli, Federation of Municipalities of Jbail, Kesrouan and Metn). In recent years, DGUP has been working more closely with MoE to direct urban planning towards a more holistic, integrated approach reconciling the imperatives of economic/social development and the urgency of protecting the environment and sustaining natural resources.

At regional and local level, the Governorate is a key administrative body that has the authority to approve and facilitate (or not approve and halt) waste management activities within its jurisdiction. Municipalities located inside the Governorate report to the Governorate on all municipal works and acquisitions. The Governorate therefore is the key stakeholder at the level of the administrative region. Municipalities and municipal federations have many responsibilities within their jurisdiction. By law they are responsible for building and maintaining certain infrastructure and providing basic services. They can provide sanitation services, maintain water works, streamline public transport and collect taxes. Municipalities are also responsible for controlling the occurrence of violations due to improper waste disposal. As a result, several municipalities were chosen either for the implementation and follow-up of actions such as refurbishing the Beirut slaughter house or monitoring actions implemented by CDR such as the construction of wastewater treatment plants.

Non-governmental Agencies

The National Council for Scientific Research (NCSR) is the umbrella agency for national research in Lebanon. It has three subsidiaries: National Centre for Remote Sensing, National Centre for Atomic Energy, and National Centre for Marine Sciences. The Council supports projects in the general field of the environment which are executed either by the Lebanese University or its subsidiary centres.

Founded in 1943, the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALIND) is a Lebanese umbrella organization that groups about 600 industries in Lebanon. ALIND advocates a policy of balanced industrial development for all Lebanese regions. The Association seeks to create and maintain an environment which is favourable to industrial investment, growth and development. As all industries in Lebanon are privately owned (except those subsidized like cigarette manufacturing), the Association plays a significant role in the industry sector.

MoE has secured a grant from the EU LIFE 3rd Countries Programme to establish the Lebanon Cleaner Production Centre (LCPC). The LCPC’s aim is to promote cleaner technologies to gradually achieve cleaner production and compliance with the national standards for environmental quality (NSEQ) pursuant to MoE Decision 8/1 dated 01/03/2001. Launched in 2002, the LCPC provides a platform for demonstrating cleaner production methods and providing technical assistance to facilitate the adoption of cleaner technologies and pollution prevention techniques.


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a) Wastewater sector

Policies on wastewater management are centrally planned in cooperation between the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), Ministry of Environment (MoE) and Ministry of Energy and Hydraulic Resources (MEHR). To date, institutional management of the wastewater sector is ineffective. The roles and responsibilities are dispersed between ministries and many other authorities that it is difficult to discern a clear authorities, monitoring and enforcement system, whilst CDR has been the most proactive of the Government agencies.

During the last years the government has been actively involved in the re-organization of the sector. Under Law 221 of 2000, future responsibility for wastewater issues is vested in MEHR through five new Regional Water Establishments (RWE); North Lebanon, Mount Lebanon (including Beirut), South Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the Litani Water Establishment. CDR will retain its functions, while MEHR will be reorganised to take the leading role in overall planning and programming nationwide. The details of how this is to be achieved have been determined by the EC-MEDA funded MSC-IPP Water project. MoE will retain responsibility for developing environmental protection policy through National Standards and Guidelines for wastewater facility management and performance, and for treated effluent reuse and disposal. Currently not constituted as an executive agency of government, MoE will require the cooperation of MoIM, MoPH, and others to promote legislation. MoE will also need to be expanded and resourced to take on responsibility for inspection and enforcement.

b) Solid Waste sector

MoE is responsible for establishing and monitoring environmental standards and for developing a solid waste management (SWM) strategy. The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (MoIM) has jurisdiction for municipalities, which in turn are responsible for implementing municipal solid waste management operations, specifically collection and disposal. Under the authority of the Prime Minister, CDR is involved in the implementation of emergency solid waste management projects.

However, a closer look at the institutional setting reveals that there is no clear distribution of responsibilities among the different stakeholders, a situation that significantly contributes to the inadequate management of the sector. Although the legal framework clearly assigns collection and disposal responsibilities to municipalities, represented by MoIM at the national level, MoE is also responsible for regulating the sector. As a result, both MoIM and MoE have jurisdiction over MSW policy, legislation, strategy, and planning; and both have developed municipal solid waste management strategies for the country. To further complicate matters, CDR was appointed by the Council of Ministers (CoM) in 2005 to propose a municipal solid waste management plan for Lebanon and to launch international tenders for this purpose.

Following recommendations from MoE, a Draft Law on Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) has been prepared as part of the Regional Solid Waste Management Project, executed by the World Bank and financed by the EC-SMAP II programme. It was submitted to CoM on October 14, 2005, and is currently under review. Following approval by CoM, the Draft Law will be presented to Parliament for ratification. The Draft Law brings the many stakeholders together into a single independent Solid Waste Management Committee responsible for planning and decision-making at the national level. Local authorities (municipalities, unions of municipalities, or groups of the two) are responsible for planning and implementation at the local level. The SWM Committee will be headed by MoE, and includes members from relevant public authorities as well as the private sector.

c) Industry sector

The law establishing the Ministry of Industry (Law 642/1997) gave the Ministry overall jurisdiction over the permitting of industrial facilities. According to the article 4 of the Decree 9765/2003 of the Ministry of Industry, the authorities in charge of the industrial pollution control are the Ministry of Industry-Control Department, the Municipalities and the competent authorities of MoE and MoPH.


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5.5.3 Legal framework

A number of laws, decrees, and ministerial decisions govern environmental management in Lebanon, some dating back to the 1930s. A framework law for the protection of the environment was adopted in 1988 and amended in 2002 (Law 444, 8/8/2002), which defines the basis and norms for environmental protection – notably for water, soil, use of chemicals and resource management – as well as institutional, administrative and technical aspects. The implementation of the framework law requires additional legislation to be adopted. MoE will need to issue about 20 decrees pursuant to this law, on matters ranging from air pollution to drinking water standards as well as EIA requirements and procedures to ensure that all aspects of environmental protection are being targeted.

The EIA regulation has not yet been passed. Since 1995 activities are being carried out by MoE for establishing the EIA procedure in Lebanon. Already now an EIA Unit operates at MoE. A separate draft EIA Law has been prepared by MoE in 2001 to be followed by ratification and implementation. Within SELDAS project on strengthening the national environmental framework, a review of the draft EIA law has been made by the pertinent bodies. In this respect, counter arguments to the arguments raised by the Council of State and the Council of Ministers Legal Adviser were provided and a lobbying document was prepared and shared with key public agencies stakeholders between January and May 2005. In the meanwhile, the resolution No. 7/1 (6/7/2003) of the MoE defined the authorized Companies for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment EIA.

Lebanon has adopted some sector-specific legislation, though fragmented and sometimes outdated.

Wastewater sector Existing legislation for the protection of water resources in Lebanon dates back to 1925. However, these laws were neither updated nor complemented with additional laws and application decrees. The main regulations directly related to wastewater are given below: • Decree 8735/1974 on pollution from solid and liquid waste • Decision No52/1 (7/1999), MoE set out the requirements for measures to protect against air, water

and soil pollution • Decision 8/1 (1/3/2001) of MoE on the National Standards for Environmental Quality (NSEQ),

covering air and liquid emissions of all sectors, and replacing corresponding standards under Decision 52/1

• Decision 3/1 (6/8/2005) about environmental guidelines for the establishment and/or operation of small wastewater treatment plants

Solid waste sector Existing legislation consists of fragmented regulations not specifically dealing with solid waste. There are two key legal instruments addressing the solid waste management sector: • Decree 8735/1974, on pollution from solid and liquid waste, assigning solid waste management as a

municipal responsibility • Decree 9093/2002 providing municipalities with an incentive to host a waste management facility Other legal texts address different waste types or sources, such as Law 387/94 and Law 64/88 on Hazardous Wastes.

The remaining elements of the legal framework either provide authority for entities to act with respect to municipal solid waste, or address other types of waste - which is helpful in the solid waste management context to the extent that they provide mechanisms for keeping other types of waste out of systems designed for solid waste. The entities that are empowered under the legal framework to act have generally not done so, with the consequence that the country suffers a vacuum of national leadership in the sector.

Industry sector • Decree 5243/01 (05/04/01) introducing five industrial classes upon their environmental risk. This

decree targets industrial facilities only and therefore does not replace Decree 4917/1994 dividing


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industries into three classes. The decision 23/99 CoM (11/12/99) exempts Class 2 and 3 industries from being located inside an industrial zone.

• Decision 44/99 CoM Requires Class 1 and 2 industries from being located inside an industrial zone; • Decree 9765/03 (11/3/2003) of MoI concerning the control, measures and penalties related to the

industrial structures with the objective to protect environment and public health; • Decision 8/1 (1/3/2001) of MoE on the National Standards for Environmental Quality (NSEQ),

covering air and liquid emissions of all sectors, replacing corresponding standards under Decision 52/1 (1996);

• Several decisions (e.g. 5/1, 16/1, 75/1, 4/1, 29/1, 5/1, 60/1, 61/1) of MoE on the provision of environmental guidelines for a number of industrial sectors (gas stations, farms, tanneries, slaughterhouses, rendering plants, dairy production, fruit and vegetable processing plants, stone cutting plants, asphalt mixing plants, plastics manufacturing plants).

Several draft pieces of legislation are pending approval, which in most cases were prepared by international funded projects (e.g. MSC-IPP, SPASI), whilst additional ones need to be enacted to fully implement the environmental framework law. Legislation pending approval - draft decree on environmental compliance action plan (prepared under EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment); - draft decree about strategic environmental assessment (prepared under EC-LIFE/ UNDP/ Strategic Environmental Assessment and Land Use Planning project); - draft law on integrated coastal area management (prepared under UNEP/ MAP Coastal Area Management Plan); - draft law on integrated solid waste management (ISWM) covering of SWM responsibilities and institutional framework, planning, permitting, information management, environmental insurance, private sector participation and financing, and cost recovery mechanisms (prepared under EC-SMAP II /METAP - Regional Solid Waste Management Project) -a draft law amending the air pollution law (law # 341/ 2001) - draft decree on the formation and organization of the National Council for Environment (prepared by a consultant lawyer); SELDAS involvement consisted of a major revision to the proposed decree; - draft law on the ratification by the Lebanese government of Beijing protocol related to the protection of the Ozone layer (prepared under MLF/UNDP Ozone Office); - draft law to amend legislative decree #144/1959 (Income Tax) for the purpose of giving a financial assistance to the classified industries that carry out the necessary rehabilitation for complying with national environmental quality standards (prepared under EC-LIFE/UNDP/ Strengthening the Permitting and Auditing System for Industries Project-SPASI); - draft law for the ratification of Kyoto protocol (prepared under the Service of Prevention from Technological Impacts and Natural Disasters and the Public Relations and External Affairs Division at the Ministry); - draft decree on banning the import of ozone depleting substances (prepared under MLF/UNDP Ozone Office and MLF/ UNDP Methyl Bromide Alternatives Project); - draft decree on integrated management of used oil (prepared under EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment); - draft decree on the classification of environmental technology industries (prepared under EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment); - five draft ministerial decisions on environmental guidelines for various phases of domestic solid waste management (prepared under EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment); - draft ministerial decision on environmental guidelines for the establishment and/or operation of olive oil pressing facilities (prepared under EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment); -draft decree on hazardous waste management (prepared under EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment) -draft environmental guidelines for landfilling, composting, sorting and transfer stations (prepared under EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment) - draft ordinance on the quality assurance and utilization of compost in agriculture, horticulture and landscaping (prepared under EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment)

5.5.4 Policy environment and action programmes

Lebanon is one of the countries that responded and contributed to the implementation of Agenda 21. This was not easy in a country where nearly 20 years of war caused severe damage to the infrastructures and the productive sectors. Since the end of 1992, the Lebanese government has been facing a most extraordinary task in reconstructing the country. The initial activities were based on the National Emergency Reconstruction Programme (NERP), a five-year rehabilitation plan from 1993


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through 1997. The plan focused on wastewater, solid waste management, electricity, telecommunication, transportation, education, health and technical assistance. In 1995, the Government submitted a 10-year plan, which covered the physical and social infrastructures. Its aim was to address the urgent needs of the various administrative units by rehabilitating them to a level of basic functionality. Since mid-1997 there was an important shift of attention of policy makers to underserved areas far from the centre by implementing integrated sustainable projects.

The establishment of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in 1993 marked a significant step forward in the management of environmental affairs. The Ministry elaborated an Environment Strategy Framework based on the first national state of environment report which was published in 1996. Its 1997-1998 agenda of action included solid waste management; air pollution; legal framework of environment management. Two of the most significant achievements was the development of a National Environmental Awareness Action plan through workshops and consultations with concerned groups and the formulation of the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) which was prepared under the EC-MEDA funded MSC-IPP Environment project.

1. National plans for the Wastewater Sector The plans of the Lebanese government in the wastewater sector are based on two key principles: first, compliance with the provisions of the Convention for Protecting the Mediterranean from Pollution; and second, protection of inland water resources from pollution. In 1995, a Damage Assessment Report was prepared to formulate a policy framework for the wastewater sector (Khatib & Alami, 1995). Implemented over three phases, the resulting National Emergency Rehabilitation Programme (NERP) launched two major programmes:

I Coastal Pollution Control Programme (CPCP), representing Lebanon’s commitment to fulfilling the requirements of the Barcelona Convention and its protocols

I Water Resources Protection Programme (WRPP), for the rehabilitation of water treatment plants and water sources (springs and wells), and the rehabilitation and construction of transmission and distribution networks

In addition, the ten years (2000 - 2009) Water and Wastewater Strategy that was developed by MEHR includes in its action plan the construction of wastewater treatment plants.

In 2001, the MoE took the lead in setting up a national follow up committee to look into and facilitate WWM works across the country. Hosted by the MoE, this committee is composed of representatives from the CDR, MoE and MoIM, and holds regular meetings to check on progress and bottlenecks.

The NERP programme proposed the construction of 12 WWTPs along the coast: Abdeh, Tripoli, Chekka, Batroun, Jbeil, Kesrouan, Dora (North Beirut), Ghadir (South Beirut), Chouf (coastal area), Saida, Sour, with the possibility of constructing a WWTP between Saida and Sour. With the execution of these coastal wastewater plants, more than 65% of the wastewater problem in Lebanon is expected to be solved by the year 2020.

In addition to the coastal plants, 20 major inland WWTPs are proposed. The plants will be located near major cities, such as Zahleh, Baalbeck, Nabatiyah, and other areas where protecting water sources from pollution is considered a priority, such as the Litani River. With the construction of these 20 WWTPs, Lebanon will achieve around 80% wastewater treatment by the year 2020. The WWTPs proposed under NERP are either in operation, under construction, or currently waiting for funding.

The remaining areas that house 20% of the population will require around 100 small WWTPs (MEDAWARE, 2003). A detailed action plan for rural wastewater has been developed under the EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment Project. This plan needs to be adopted and further developed by the Regional Water Establishments (RWEs) for their individual regions.

MoE has also issued two draft policy documents (prepared under EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment), both of which are presently at consultation stage: • Policy for the Above-Ground Use of Reclaimed Domestic Wastewater • Ordinance on the Use and Disposal of Sewage Sludge


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2. National Strategy on Solid Waste Management The government’s vision for a national waste management is shifting towards waste minimization, recycling, composting and construction of landfills for every Muhafaza or Caza. Incineration, open dumping, and open burning are completely excluded from the government’s future plans and current plans are being prepared for the closure and rehabilitation of the majority of the costal dumpsites but achievements to date are very few.

In 1999, the MoE developed a national strategy for SWM building on the recommendations outlined during a national workshop on Waste Management Strategy for Lebanon, organized jointly by MoE, METAP and the World Bank in Beirut (May 7-9, 1999). However, current waste management programmes and schemes indicate that a lack of consensus still prevails among key institutional stakeholders (i.e., CDR, MoE, and MoIM) on how to handle the SWM sector. As part of its strategy, MoE formed an inter-ministerial committee composed of representatives and/or the Directors General from the MoE, MoIM, CDR, and ALIND. While its mandate is not explicitly defined, the committee would follow up on all SWM issues (including projects and bottlenecks) in the country.

The policy promoted the construction of landfills and composting facilities at the Mohafaza level. While the strategy does not explicitly favour any singly waste treatment technology, it does recognize sanitary landfills as an integral component of any future strategy (i.e., the disposal of by-products from other technologies, bulky items, etc.). Moreover, the adopted technology (-ies) should be proven elsewhere, cost effective and ISO-Certified 14001. The strategy also recognizes the need to secure express approval from the MoIM before any SWM project or activity is implemented. The strategy advocates implementing short-term SWM goals and activities until a long-term national strategy for SWM is approved. While several long-term strategies were proposed from waste minimization, source separation, recycling, energy recovery, marketing of by-products and project cost-recovery, no short-term targets or goals were specified in this strategy (MoE/Ecodit, 2001).

In 2005, the Government of Lebanon appointed CDR to develop a National Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan. CDR presented a proposal for the national plan on August 18, 2005. If approved by CoM, the plan will be used by CDR for the tendering of MSW treatment and disposal services. The institutional and legal frameworks are being addressed by MoE and the World Bank through the preparation of a Draft Law on Integrated Solid Waste Management. In addition, CDR has developed a plan for the rehabilitation of abandoned dumpsites.

3. Government plans for Industrial Pollution Control The Government has made significant efforts to improve the monitoring and enforcement mechanism and promote sound technologies for improving the environmental performance of the industrial facilities. The major plans and programmes are summarised below.

Permitting System MoE has established a strategy to reshape the permitting and auditing system of industries (with the assistance of the EC-MEDA SPASI project). The MoE strategy to improve the environmental performance includes a Permitting System for new facilities and a Compliance Action Plan for existing facilities. MoE’s Permitting System for new facilities involves the preparation of environmental impact assessment studies, environmental guidelines for several sectors, implementation of the new classification system, a revision of national standards for environmental quality and a monitoring plan.

National Environmental Audit The manual provides in-depth guidelines and procedures for conducting audits, including checklists for environmental management, production process, water supply, wastewater management, air emissions, solid waste management, noise pollution, energy consumption, and occupational health and safety. The manual also presents checklists for primary pollutants that would need to be measured as part of an environmental audit. Through proper dissemination of this manual, the MoE aims to develop sector-specific action plans to optimise resource management and improve process performance.


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Technical incentives A number of technical incentives have been established or are under development: mechanism to grant “Green Certificates”, a green directory of compliant industries, promotion of cleaner technologies and pollution prevention techniques as a way to comply with the new standards.

Fiscal incentives A draft law and several decrees providing fiscal incentives for industrialists to upgrade their facilities to meet environmental standards were issued by the Ministry of Environment in 2001.

Improving Fuel Quality MoE has prepared a decree that defines minimum quality standards for all major types of fuels, not only unleaded gasoline (e.g., maximum allowable lead content), but also fuel oil (e.g., maximum allowable sulphur content), diesel for transport vehicles, and diesel oil for industries. In August 2002, the Government introduced an incremental cost through which unleaded fuel has been made cheaper than leaded by around 5%.

4. National Environmental Action Plan

A draft NEAP was developed by the EC-MEDA MSC-IPP Environment project (2002-2005) with the Ministry of Environment, which addresses a complete list of environmental problems facing Lebanon, identifies in as practical detail as possible all methods, including general policies, of mitigation, assigns precise institutional responsibilities for these steps and provides cost estimates for measures where appropriate and possible. The planning horizon is five to ten years. There is no information available whether or not the proposed NEAP has been finalised or adopted. The actions included in the draft NEAP, relevant to the sectors of urban effluents, solid wastes and industrial effluents are:

For wastewater sector Improve municipal wastewater management practices • Adopt a National Wastewater Management Plan • Develop a Regional Action Plan for rural wastewater management • Secure funding for priority wastewater infrastructure • Implement plans for priority treatment plants • Increase the areas served by sewerage infrastructures • Develop and adopt a legal framework for the management of WWTPs • Improve the operation and performance of existing rural WW management plans • Monitor WWTP performance against National Environmental Standards • Adopt and Implement strategy for the treatment and disposal of sludge • Develop strategy and guidelines for the re-use of treated effluent • Build and strengthen institutional capacity for all stakeholders • Ensure adequate operation and maintenance of all sewerage infrastructure • Promote PP in wastewater management • Improve public awareness Improve industrial wastewater management • Adopt a National Industrial Wastewater Management Plan • Develop and adopt a legal framework for IWW implementation and management • Improve industrial effluent management by sector • Promote environmental awareness and cleaner production experience • Encourage industries to fulfil the registration requirements for ISO 14001 • Develop and implement emergency response procedures and incident prevention programmes

For solid waste sector • Develop a National Strategy for Solid Waste Management • Develop the legal and regulatory frameworks for SWM • Implement the strategy

- Develop Local MSWM plans - Execute Local MSWM plans - Construct MSW facilities - Develop PP at local and central levels - Establish knowledge and information infrastructure - Develop capacity building


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- Promote waste reduction and recovery - Promote energy recovery from waste - Rehabilitate existing dumps - Coordinate with funding agencies

• Set up a Waste Exchange Programme 5. The National Action Plan in the frame of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Mediterranean from land-based pollution sources (UNEP/MAP)

Priority actions proposed in the National Action Plan of Lebanon prepared in the frame of the SAP of UNEP/MAP in 2005 include:

North Lebanon • Closure of Domestic Raw Sewage Sea Outfalls. Construction of stormwater- sewage network. Construction of

WWTP in Tripoli (75 million USD have been secured from EIB), El Abde (25 million USD), Chekka (10.1 million USD have been secured from the French Protocol and 2.9 million USD from AFD) and Batroun (7.6 million USD have been secured from the French Protocol and 4.4 million USD from AFD).

• Reduce Effluent Concentrations & Quantities from Fertilizer Company (100,000 will be provided by the Lebanon Chemical Company)

• Complete containment of Tripoli seafront dumpsite (funds will be provided by the Government of Lebanon).

Beirut • Closure of Domestic Raw Sewage Sea Outfalls. Construction of stormwater- sewage network. Construction of

WWTP in Dora and Ghadir (50 million USD have been secured from KFW, EIB, IDP, OPEC). • Treatment of Beirut Slaughterhouse Waste (Quarantina)

Mount Lebanon • Closure of Domestic Raw Sewage Sea Outfalls. Construction of stormwater- sewage network. Construction of

WWTP in Jbeir, Kesrouan, Chouf (funds have been secured from the French Protocol, KFW, EIB, IDP, OPEC). • Upgrade Select Industrial Zones in Mount Lebanon • Reduce Leachate from Borj Hammoud Dumpsite

South Lebanon • Construct Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sour & Saida • Rehabilitation of Sour Coastal Dumpsite • Rehabilitate Saida Seafront Dumpsite • Promote Cleaner Production & Chromium Recycling in Ghazieh Tanneries

Horizontal actions • Implement a National System for the Collection and Treatment of Waste Oil • Control Littering from Seafront Walkways

6. Actions on MDGs

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), representing the United Nations country team, and the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), representing the Lebanese government, joined efforts to produce the first Millennium Development Goal Report for Lebanon which was launched on the 19th of November 2003. Of relevance is Goal 7 Target 11: “By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers”. According to the report, in 1996 37% of dwellings had access to wastewater networks, while the remainder, mainly in rural areas, depended on septic tanks. Domestic solid waste continues to be a major environmental problem, with more that 80% being dumped in landfills.

Several recommendations were made, which called for the formulation of a national strategy integrating the principles of environmental sustainable development into policies, the completion of enactment and enforcement of the Environmental Framework law, the formulation of legal framework and enforcement of mechanisms to adopt SEA, the capacity building of local authorities


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for environmental management (agenda 21), and the adoption of a national policy to manage water resources and rehabilitate infrastructure.

5.5.5 Overview of completed and on-going projects

In Lebanon international development assistance has been significant over the past decade. The most important one has been received from EIB, the European Union, and its member states (mainly France and Italy), as well as USAID, IDB, World Bank, Japan, and Arab Funds, either individually or jointly. Limited data were available on the projects that receive public or private local funding.

International financial support has being targeted at the wastewater management sector aiming at implementing the objectives of the national emergency rehabilitation programme (NERP). The most important past activity was the multilateral funded Emergency Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Project, which assisted the government to rehabilitate, repair and reconstruct wastewater infrastructure facilities and strengthened the government’s institutional capabilities in implementing the NERP. At present, a large number of foreign funded projects are in implementation phase for the construction, rehabilitation and extension of sewer and wastewater treatment systems throughout the country, including activities on strengthening the institutional set-up. For a number of others the government has already secured funding and they are under preparation.

International assistance on solid waste management covers the construction of landfills, the procurement of collection equipment, and the rehabilitation of dumping sites, though the last to a limited extent. The two most significant past activities are the Emergency Plan for Greater Beirut and the WB funded SWEMP project providing solutions outside Greater Beirut, whilst the latter was reduced considerably as a result of political turmoil and public dissent. Some municipalities had on their own initiative and with the support of international funding agencies (e.g. USAID, UNDP) developed and implemented plans for the management of municipal solid waste. EC has also greatly supported to the elaboration of a national strategy on solid waste management, the strengthening of the ministry of environment, the preparation and execution of waste management projects, and public awareness to local communities.

The most important activities on industrial pollution control have received financial assistance from EC. With the SPASI project, the MoE has developed a strategy for improving the environmental performance of industries, has reshaped the permitting and auditing system and provided national environmental quality standards. In this context, the MoE has also received assistance through the LIFE 3rd countries programme to establish the Lebanon Cleaner Production Centre (LCPC), which provided a platform for demonstrating cleaner production methods and providing technical assistance to facilitate the adoption of cleaner technologies and pollution prevention techniques. A GEF funded project also supported the development of national implementation plan on POPs that put environmental guidelines into practice.

EC is considered the key contributor in policy and legal development, capacity building and establishment of administrative structures through its EC-MEDA and LIFE 3rd countries programmes. Another important activity that assisted in the identification of environmental policy actions is the recently accomplished GEF funded project for the elaboration of NAP for SAP/MED.

The following table is a brief presentation of the past achieved and ongoing activities subject to the available data, while the detailed list of these projects is annexed.


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Activities Funding source Status

Urban Wastewater Sewerage network construction, extension or rehabilitation: - Tripoli -IDB, national

- Baadba and Aley -EIB

- Saida and Tyre -EIB, Japan (JBIC)

- South western Beirut (Hawdh Al – Ghadir) -IDB, national

- Koura, Chekka, Batroun, Edhen and Bcharré -France (AFD)

Construction / improvement of wastewater treatment plants: - Zahle -Italy (DGCS)

- Chekka, Nabatieh -France (AFD)

- Jbeil, Batroun, Chouf coast -France (MINEFI)

- Baabdat, Beek -France (MINEFI) n/a - Khinchara (Metn), Abdeh (Akkar), Becharre-Hasroun -Spain (AECI) n/a Construction/Extension/Modernisation of wastewater collection and treatment system:

- Greater Beirut -EIB, EC-MEDA, AFESD

- Sour -EIB, KfW

- Baalbeck -WB/IBRD, national

- Greater Tripoli -EIB, EC-MEDA

-Mihmish, Bakhoun, El Hermel, Anjar, Qaroun, Hrajel, Chaqr, Jbaa, Hasbaya, Qartaba, Mazraat al Chouf

-Italy (DGCS)

- Rural communities (100 small scale WWTPs) -USAID n/a - Kesrouan, Saida and Sour -EIB, WB, Japan (JBIC ) - Palestinian Refugee camps in South Lebanon, unregistered camps in Saida, refugee camps in Tyre, etc. (7 projects)

-EC-MEDA/ECHO

Integrated Coastal Management from Jbeil /Amsheet to Latakia in order to deliver immediate environmental and sanitary improvement; installation of equipment for wastewater management in the town of Batroun, in North Lebanon

EC-SMAP I

Municipal Infrastructure project: upgrading and rehabilitating basic municipal infrastructure in all the municipalities; strengthening the capacity of municipal sector and Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs

WB/IBRD

West Bekaa wastewater: elimination of pollution heavily affecting the Qaraoun lake

IDB, Italy, national

Reconstruction and rehabilitation of water supply and wastewater facilities all over the country (Emergency Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Project)

WB, AFESD, France (Gov), Italy (Gov.), IDB, KFAED, other multilateral

Reconstruction of water supply, sewerage and treatment systems throughout the country

EIB n/a

Development of tools and guidelines for the promotion of sustainable urban wastewater treatment and re-use in agricultural production

EC-MEDA

Capacity building and institutional strengthening: -Reforming of four regional establishments, municipal capacity building, public-private partnership (North Lebanon)

WB, France (AFD)

-Strengthening and developing the capacity of Ministry of Energy and Water (IPP - Drinking water, wastewater and irrigation project)

EC-MEDA


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Municipal Solid Waste Introduction of solid waste management in: -Mount Lebanon, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, West Bekaa, Nabatiyeh (financial support for the preparation and execution of waste management projects; collection, transport, sorting out and composting household waste)

EC-MEDA

-Casa of Byblos (feasibility study) US -TDA

-outside Greater Beirut (eventually one landfill site and sorting facility was constructed in Zahle, including collection equipment for various municipalities & rehabilitation of Tripoli dumpsite)-SWEMP

WB/IBRD

-Palestinian refugee camps EC -MEDA/ECHO Solid waste management equipment provision to various municipalities in Lebanon (Vehicles, Solid Waste Equipment, Generator, Bins)

EC-MEDA

Community-Based Solid Waste Management: - Arab Salim, Nabatiyeh, Becharre, Maghdoucheh UNDP - Akkar el Atika, Kfarsir USAID Reconstruction and rehabilitation of solid waste management in Greater Beirut (Emergency Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Project)

WB, AFESD, France (Gov), Italy (Gov.), IDB, KFAED, other multilateral

Rehabilitation of uncontrolled dumpsites: -rehabilitation of a waste disposal site (site name was not available) Sweden (SIDA) - rehabilitation of the Normandy Sanitation site in Beirut Netherlands (MFA) n/a

Regional Solid Waste Management Project in METAP Mashreq and Maghreb Countries: Promotion of the adoption of sustainable ISWM practices through: strengthening policy, legal and institutional frameworks, clarifying financing and cost-recovery options and methods, opportunities for private sector participation and defining public awareness and community participation strategies. Project activities are carried out at both regional and national levels. At national level, to bring assistance and support to the Ministry of Environment by an ISWM legal framework and strengthening of national and municipal capacities for applying, enforcing and monitoring the strengthened legal framework, in selecting preferred SWM systems and in negotiating private sector contracts.

EC -SMAP II / METAP, national

Raising awareness of local communities, demonstrating the environmental, economic and social benefits of SWM by demonstrating good practice measures (RCSWMP)

EC-SMAP I

Industrial emissions

Regional project on integrated waste management for the olive-oil pressing industries: establishment of national databases, introduction of cleaner production options and setting national effluent standards, building of demonstration pilot plants

EC- SMAP II, RAC/CP, national

Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Arab States: Capacity Building for the Implementation of the Basel Convention

Finland (MFA)

Capacity building of policy makers and stakeholders for the development of an environmental permitting and auditing system for industrial establishments (SPASI)

UNDP/LIFE 3rd countries, national

Lebanon cleaner production centre (LCPC) EC -LIFE 3rd countries/ UNIDO


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DELTA Phase III- Environmental upgrading of enterprises in Maghreb and Mashreq countries: development of eco-management practices in Jordan enterprises; institutional strengthening of DELTA networks; and development of individual skills to promote eco-efficiency in the future.

EC -LIFE 3rd countries

Urban Air Quality Improvement through Air Quality and Mobility Plans and the Institutional Strengthening of Local Air Quality Administration in Air Quality Management; Improving air quality of Al-Fayhaa through elaborating Air Quality Plan to reduce polluting emissions from industrial, domestic, service and transport sectors and through elaborating Urban Mobility Plan

EC -SMAP II

Conversion of CFC-free technology in 2 aerosol manufacturing facilities UNDP, national Development of a National Implementation Plan for the management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

GEF , Germany, national

Horizontal

Capacity building for the Ministry of Environment through national plans for environmental actions; integration of the new legislation; administrative restructuring (Investment Planning and Programming (IPP) Environment project)

EC-MEDA

Assistance and institutional strengthening, promotion of integrated coastal zone management (SMAP III Technical Assistance project)

EC-SMAP III

Integrated Management of East Mediterranean Coastlines (IMAC), involving capacity building of local authorities, improvements in legal and institutional setting, increase coordination and participation between different sectors and levels of decision making

EC-SMAP III

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and land use planning in Lebanon

EC-LIFE 3rd countries/ UNDP

Determination of Priority Actions for the Further Elaboration and Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Mediterranean Sea

UNEP/GEF, national

Strengthening the Environmental Legislation Development and Application System in Lebanon (SELDAS)

EC-LIFE 3rd countries

Municipal Environmental Plans in Lebanon (demonstration project) EC-LIFE 3rd countries Technical assistance to reinforce governance in environmental tasks (TARGET); develop the operational capacities of the Ministry of Environment in realising its mission

EC-LIFE 3rd countries/ UNDP/ national

An Enhancement of the Permanent Environmental Awareness Unit at the Ministry of Environment in the Lebanon

EC-LIFE 3rd countries/ UNDP

completed activities; ongoing activities; n/a: not available data

5.5.6 Outcome of review

Lebanon is on the road to make substantial efforts to environmental protection. At present, a number of pollution abatement activities have been launched, receiving significant amount of international assistance. Yet, the country must take further steps to a more concrete environmental policy and provide the means for a more effective realisation.

To date, the institutional set-up in Lebanon needs reforming to surpass overlapping responsibilities, inefficient co-ordination among government agencies, and insufficient means of action for policy


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implementation. The Government has carried out a number of institutional and legal steps to improve the institutional set-up, whilst enforcement remains the major challenge of the environmental control system. It also results from political turmoil, conflicting opinions and insufficient resources and skills that stand in the way of effective enforcement. In addition, activities on environmental protection are hampered by lack of funds.

Two very ambitious EC funded projects, MSC-IPP and SELDAS, have supported the country to review, amend and integrate the national environmental policy and the relevant institutional and legal framework and mobilise resources for environmental management, as for instance the reorganisation of the MoE. The law on environmental impact assessment has not been yet approved, resulting in deficiencies in the control and enforcement system, often perceived as an obstacle to investment and economic development. A number of policy and legal texts are under the process of consultation and approval, which would highly contribute to the integration of the environmental management throughout the country.

Focusing on the sectors under review, wastewater is regarded the number one problem and has been put in the forefront national agenda. The common practice, with few exceptions, is the discharge of the effluents generated from residential and industrial areas to the sea or inland watercourses without prior treatment, indicating a great harm to the environment, and posing potential public health related hazards. To date, while many activities on the construction of treatment systems have been launched and are under implementation and/or preparation phase, the national wastewater management programme is still in its very early implementation phase.

The municipal solid waste sector is the second national priority. The Government has yet to make serious policy commitments to promoting, and eventually requiring, sustainable and environmentally friendly SWM practices throughout the country, which will reflect the existing requirements. The competent authorities are very much looking for long-term solid waste management solutions with proper financing and efficient performance. Uncontrolled dumpsites are also a major concern for public health and the environment and adequate remedial actions should be forwarded, in parallel with, whether not in place, the construction of sanitary landfills.

Regarding the industry sector, the government has invested significant efforts and resources and received financial support to improve the environmental performance of the industrial facilities (e.g. SPASI projects), by strengthening the permitting system, developing the necessary effluent standards as well as introducing non-regulatory approaches (financial and technical incentives). However, no reported data were available to conclude whether the EIA system has been given a mandatory role. Also, an institutional reforming with clear authorisation is required to facilitate and improve the monitoring and enforcement mechanism.

In brief, the interventions crucial to reduce the burden on the environment include: strengthening of legal framework, adoption of an integrated environment strategy, and effective prioritisation of actions, institutional and technical capacity building, and effective operation of de-pollution infrastructures, secured funding and awareness development. Actions on the adoption and implementation of the draft National Environmental Action Plan in parallel with the implementation of the National Action Plan of Strategic Action Programme of the UNEP/MAP are expected to overcome the constraints and contribute drastically and effectively the work of competent authorities on the road of pollution abatement. These programmes address similar priorities and some of these works are already in progress, while efforts should be well organised and coordinated to ensure funds are secured and the desired results are reached.

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