Waste: To Burn or Not to Burn?

Date

1 October 2025 7 PM

Location

Souk El Tayeb, Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Lebanon

The debate over waste management in Lebanon is highly polarized, and there is a pressing need to clarify both the pros and cons of different approaches. Understanding the full picture requires insights into financial, economic, industrial, health, and environmental dimensions of waste management.

Lebanon faces significant challenges when it comes to its waste: What is it composed of ? How is it currently treated ? What are the impacts of various disposal methods? Exploring existing alternative solutions is crucial, not only those that are environmentally sustainable but also economically viable and socially acceptable.

“Waste: To Burn or Not to Burn?” is a gathering co-organized with Souk El Tayeb (social enterprise) under the auspices and with the participation of the Lebanese Minister of Industry, Mr. Joe Issal El Khoury. The aim is to provide a comprehensive discussion of these issues through a documentary screening and expert panel offering perspectives from engineering, waste management, biology, public health and legal frameworks.

Program details and Panelists

The event will explore the challenges and impacts of waste incineration in Beirut through a documentary screening followed by a panel discussion. This conversation will offer a better understanding of Lebanon’s waste composition, potential sustainable alternatives, and the implications of waste incineration on communities, policies, economy and natural ecosystems.

Panelists and Speakers:

  • H.E. Joe Issa El Khoury – Lebanese Minister of Industry
  • Nizar Saghieh – Executive Director of The Legal Agenda
  • Samar Khalil – Environmental Management Specialist
  • Ziad Abichaker – Environmental and Industrial Engineer
  • Carol Sukhn, PhD – Ecotoxicologist and Marine Biologist

Moderated by:
Suzan Baaklini – Environmental Editor

Discussion Topics:

  • Legal and social dimensions of waste management policies
  • Environmental risks and sustainable alternatives
  • Technical and industrial aspects of incineration
  • Health and ecological impacts on communities and ecosystems