Lebanon’s waste management crisis is a well-known challenge. From overflowing landfills to plastic pollution, the country faces an urgent need for sustainable solutions. In response, CEWAS, an entrepreneurial support organisation based in Beirut, has joined forces with SPARK to promote impactful enterprises in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector.

SPARK’s “From Innovation to Creation” programme, funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen innovation by supporting cooperation and start-up ecosystems in the Southern Neighbourhood countries, including Lebanon. Through this initiative, CEWAS, alongside partners such as Flourish, focuses on building entrepreneurial solutions to environmental issues, such as waste management, to drive sustainable economic development.

Addressing the waste crisis: a need for change

Lebanon’s waste problem has worsened over the years. As Maya Karkour, Co-founder of Flourish from Beirut, explains, “We all know there’s a waste management crisis in Lebanon, and part of the solution is to sort and recycle at much higher rates. However, recycling alone won’t solve the problem.” Recognising this, CEWAS focused its policy paper on transitioning Lebanon towards circular packaging and product reuse. Particular attention was given to single-use plastics, such as nylon bags and food containers, which make up a significant portion of the country’s waste.
The goal of the project is to incentivise alternatives that promote recirculation and reuse of packaging. This change could not only reduce the volume of waste but also address the economic impact by extending the life of products and creating more green jobs in Lebanon.

Minimising waste at the source

One practical application of this vision is the initiative by “Dekenet Al Nes,” which translates to “The People’s Shop.” This shop offers essential products in bulk quantities, eliminating the need for packaging. Customers bring their containers, fill them with the products they need, and pay by weight. Layal Mostafa, the Deputy CEO of Dekenet Al Nes, highlights the shop’s difference from traditional stores: “Our products aren’t packaged; they come in large quantities. Customers fill their bottles and containers, reducing packaging waste.”

Anwar Zeineddine, the CEO, adds that the impact of this model is measurable: “Over the past year and eight months, this project has helped minimise 8 tons of packaging waste.” This approach aligns with the CEWAS project’s focus on incentivising alternatives to single-use packaging and encouraging a circular economy.

Policy recommendations for a circular future

As part of the “From Innovation to Creation” programme, CEWAS and its partners, including EcoConsulting, prepared policy papers to recommend strategies for Lebanon’s transition towards circular packaging and product reuse. These recommendations are split into short, medium, and long-term strategies, depending on their feasibility and potential impact.
One of the key strategies proposed in the policy paper is to impose a minimum price on plastic bags in shops. This would serve as an immediate deterrent to the excessive use of plastic bags, encouraging customers to bring their own reusable options. The policy paper outlines over 20 strategies in total, including various forms of support, incentives, taxes, and regulations. According to Mohamad Mortada, one of the authors of the policy paper, “All the strategies have the potential to reduce the volume of imports by extending the life of products and promoting their continued use.”

In the long term, these strategies aim to shift Lebanon’s waste management from a linear “take-make-waste” model to a circular one that prioritises reduction, reuse, and recycling. This transition, as outlined in the policy paper, requires the engagement of stakeholders across sectors, including businesses, the government, and civil society.

Creating a sustainable future

The work of CEWAS, in collaboration with SPARK and Flourish, highlights the importance of adopting a circular economy approach to waste management in Lebanon. As Maya Karkour notes, “We need solutions that not only address the symptoms of the waste crisis but also create systemic change.” By supporting projects like Dekenet Al Nes and advocating for policy changes, this initiative aims to pave the way for a more sustainable future.

The efforts towards a circular economy are not just about reducing waste; they also represent an opportunity to build a greener economy, create jobs, and foster innovation. CEWAS’s policy paper provides a roadmap for how Lebanon can move from merely managing waste to reimagining how products and materials are used and reused, benefiting both the environment and society.