embassy highlights

School Students Visit USAID-Funded Solid Waste Management Facility

April 22, 2008

Students examine various waste management processes at the Zahle facility...

As part of its environmental awareness campaign, USAID conducted a field visit for school students to the solid waste facility in Zahle, funded under USAID’s EARTH program. More than 25 students participated in a guided tour and learned about the various components of solid waste management including sorting, composting, recycling, land filling and treatment of leachate. Throughout the visit, the students showed extreme enthusiasm for being part of their municipality’s efforts to preserve the environment and improve public health.

With USAID funding, the EARTH (Environmental Appropriate Rural Technologies) program is implemented by the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF). The project rehabilitated and expanded the Zahle solid waste facility, increasing its capacity from 130 tons to 300 tons of waste per day. The project developed a composting unit, a sorting facility as well as new landfill cells. The project also consists of treating the leachate generated from the landfill to reduce the risk of overflow into the Litani River. The activity is coupled with awareness campaigns on proper sorting at the source targeting hotels, restaurants and vegetable markets. The project will improve the quality of life in 26 municipalities in the Zahle district, as well as generate additional financial returns from recycling.

The "Bi-Weekly Photo" is a product of U.S. Embassy Beirut to highlight the U.S. Government's development, relief, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to Lebanon. For more information, visit the Embassy’s website at http://lebanon.usembassy.gov.