Project Overview

The TaDWIR project addresses the critical failures in Lebanon’s waste management systems, which have been exacerbated by the 2015 waste crisis and the subsequent economic collapse. The project aims to move Lebanon toward an environmentally and financially sustainable waste management model by reducing landfill reliance and improving waste quality through sorting at the source. In November 2024, the project was repurposed to provide emergency waste management services to areas housing internally displaced people (IDPs) due to the ongoing conflict in parallel with its original scope.

Project Objective

• Minimize volumes of waste sent to landfills through improved sorting and recycling.
• Enhance the operational quality and efficiency of existing waste processing facilities.
• Develop national systems for cost coverage and improved governance of municipal solid waste.
• Improve the management of specific waste streams, including healthcare and electronic waste.
• Provide immediate waste collection and management support for shelters and host communities during crisis.
   

Achievements & Key Figures

• Developed a national Healthcare Waste Management Master Plan and supporting governance arrangements.  2021–2024
• Constructed a new infectious healthcare waste microwave sterilization unit at Beirut Governmental University Hospital – Karantina; technical assessments completed for upgrading the RHUH incinerator to enable treatment of cytotoxic waste at the national level.  2023–2025 
• Advanced environmental and technical assessments for a new infectious healthcare waste treatment facility in the North Lebanon (capacity ~3.5 tons/day). 2024–2025 
•  Completed a national baseline assessment of e-waste and batteries, mapped collection systems (12 fixed centers and 4 mobile points), and developed a draft legal framework and decree for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).  2022–2024
• Completed baseline assessments and market analysis for municipal green waste (estimated at over 800,000 tons/year), selected pilot composting sites across multiple governorates, and finalized basic designs, business plans, and permitting for pilot facilities. 2023–2025
• Conducted a national RDF assessment identifying that approximately 27% of municipal solid waste is suitable for RDF production; prepared technical designs and investment scenarios for priority facilities, including Zahle and Chouf Sweijani. 2023–2025
• Completed technical assessments and prioritization of ten solid waste facilities nationwide to improve operational efficiency, sustainability, and readiness for upgrades.    2022–2025
• Completed a national baseline assessment and developed a master plan to improve slaughterhouse waste management, identifying sector-wide cooperation needs and investment options. 2023–2024
• Supplied over 9,500 plastic bins and 1,500 metal bins and supported emergency waste collection services in unions of municipalities hosting displaced populations, collecting more than 5,300 tons of waste.   2024–2025
• Developed a national governance framework and cost-recovery guidelines for municipal solid waste management, including affordability analyses and proposed financial instruments.  2022–2025 
   

GESI Component (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion)

The project is designated as GEN2, integrating gender equality into waste management planning. It recognizes that women play a central role in household waste sorting and targets them through specialized awareness campaigns. Furthermore, the project promotes inclusive employment within the waste sector, ensuring that vulnerable groups, including informal waste pickers, are considered in the transition to more formalized, decentralized governance systems. During the emergency phase, waste management interventions are prioritized for shelters to ensure the health and safety of displaced women and children.