BEIRUT, 05 April 2024:  A workshop on “Municipal Waste Management: The Social and Affordability Impacts of Setting New Tariffs" was conducted at the Smallville Hotel in Beirut. This event was organized by the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the framework of a European Union-funded project which aims to address the challenges and implications of implementing new tariffs in municipal waste management.

The workshop brought together journalists and media representatives to engage in discussions and raise awareness about the solid waste management sector, with a specific focus on the socio-economic impacts of proposed new tariff structures. The aim is to empower journalists to disseminate accurate information regarding the proposed reforms, informed by comprehensive studies.

During his opening speech, H.E. Dr. Nasser Yassin, the Minister of Environment, underscored the increasingly  important role municipalities play in managing  solid waste. He stressed the  the critical need to cover the expenses  not only for waste cleaning and collection services at municipal level, but also for the proper treatment and disposal of waste. He  also emphasized the importance of  taking into account social and economic impacts when implementing  of new tariffs for  waste management services.  

In her remarks, the Head of Cooperation of  the European Union Delegation in Lebanon, Alessandra Viezzer , reiterated the European Union’ support to Lebanon in managing with one of its most pressing challenges, the management of solid waste.
‘The TADWIR project, is one of the key initiatives through which we are supporting this process, with a core objective to improve the overall environmental and financial sustainability of Lebanon’s waste management system. A new, fairer and more transparent solid waste management system can only become reality through a concerted effort of all parts of the society’.
At the workshop, the findings of the recent study of  a cost-analysis of solid waste management  services. This comprehensive analysis factored in the financial capabilities of citizens to pay service fees, especially given the backdrop of the prevailing economic crisis and currency devaluation.  The study also examined how the proposed new municipal solid waste tariffs, currently under parliamentary discussion, would affect social equity and affordability.

Interactive sessions and expert-led presentations offered participants insights into the complexities of tariff adjustments and their necessary role in ensuring the sustainable management of municipal waste, considering the broader social implications.

About UNDP: 
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP in Lebanon supports national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a range of projects and initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and resilience.

About the European Union:
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
Web: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/lebanon
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