October 4, 2026
The Minister of Environment, Tamara El-Zein, in coordination with the National Solid Waste Management Authority, is following up on immediate measures to address the waste crisis at the Sarar landfill and contain its repercussions on the surrounding villages, in parallel with developing a plan for a permanent solution that is expected to become operational by the end of February 2027.
The Ministry stressed the imposition of a strict commitment on the entities operating the landfill to environmental standards and conditions, in addition to strengthening field monitoring of the site to reduce environmental risks and damage that threaten neighboring towns.
Al-Zein explained that resorting to temporarily reopening the Sarar landfill aimed to prevent the accumulation of waste in the streets, stressing that this measure is transitional and limited to the period that precedes the operation of the sanitary landfill and treatment plant.
In the context of the permanent solution, the Minister indicated that the construction work for the sanitary landfill began in January 2026 in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), in conjunction with the maintenance and modernization of the sorting plant within the (GATE) project funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Council for Development and Reconstruction. The two facilities are scheduled to officially begin their work by the end of February 2027, which will allow for the treatment of waste and the burial of exhaust in accordance with health and environmental standards, and in preparation for the final closure of random dumps.
To reduce the amount of incoming waste, the Ministry supports the efforts of Akkar municipalities to expand the scope of sorting from the source, with the aim of raising recovery and recycling rates and reducing the volume of waste destined for treatment and landfill.
Within the framework of devoting social and environmental justice, Al-Zein revealed efforts to provide incentives, aid and development projects to the villages and communities surrounding the Sarar landfill, to compensate them for bearing the burden of hosting waste for many years, stressing that bearing the cost of this service should not be limited to a specific area.
Al-Zein concluded by sending a message to the people of the region, stressing that fairness and protection of the villages adjacent to the landfill are a fundamental pillar of the solution, and stressing that the success of the next stage requires integration of responsibilities between the state, municipalities, and citizens to reach a healthy and sustainable environment.
