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Disasters occur in both developed and developing countries, generating large amounts of disaster waste including construction and demolition (C&D) waste that needs to be appropriately managed. While developed countries are capable of implementing adequate disaster waste management (DWM) strategies to facilitate their recovery processes, developing countries generally struggle to find the resources and expertise needed to develop such strategies. Lebanon is a developing country vexed by several systemic challenges that hindered its abilities to manage disaster waste. In this paper, we focus on the Beirut Port explosion (4 August 2020), which generated more than 800,000 tonnes of disaster wastes. This study first assesses the executed strategies and identifies their enabling factors and implementation challenges. It then proposes a framework for the proper management of disaster waste, which was validated through 18 in-depth interviews with experts and stakeholders involved in disaster management. Interview notes and transcripts were analyzed using an inductive-deductive process that allowed to identify themes using the constant comparative method. The data revealed that the main barriers toward implementing a successful DWM strategy were the absence of appropriate technologies, infrastructure, expertise, legislative framework and financial resources. The study concludes by proposing a DWM roadmap that includes contingency, risk reduction and implementation plans (IPs) that can enhance decision-making and ease the recovery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncontrolled dumping of solid waste is widespread in many developing countries with most of all generated wastes being indiscriminately disposed of in an unsanitary manner that entails significant environmental and public health risks. It is imperative to prioritize dumpsites based on their relative risks so that the necessary control and remedial measures can be undertaken. This research aimed to formulate a pragmatic prioritization and rehabilitation decision tool that can be utilized in low‐ and middle‐income countries to guide decision makers in prioritizing dumpsites for remediation and in identifying the most suitable rehabilitation option for municipal as well as construction and demolition waste. The established prioritization model presents an integrated, risk‐based approach to developing a decision‐making tool for dumpsite prioritization and rehabilitation. The rehabilitation tool drew on a decision tree module to develop the appropriate remedial measures required for each site. The model proved to be effective in prioritizing uncontrolled solid waste disposal sites in Lebanon and for adopting control and remedial measures that can considerably improve decision‐making. The improper disposal of solid waste adversely affects public health and the environment in, to a greater or lesser extent, almost all low‐ and middle‐income countries. Considering that it is unfeasible to remediate all uncontrolled solid waste disposal sites at once, the proposed model facilitates the evaluation process by prioritizing sites for closure and remediation based on their relative risks. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:436–445. © 2022 SETAC Key Points: This study presents a pragmatic prioritization model to prioritize dumpsites based on a risk sensitivity index (RSI) with two different tools to address municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition waste (CDW) dumpsites.The prioritization model serves to categorically stratify uncontrolled municipal waste disposal sites into different classifications based on the RSI, which indicates the risk to the environment and the need for intervention.The rehabilitation decision tool (RDT) provides a methodological framework that describes and compares different remediation scenarios depending on the RSI.The easy‐to‐use model can be used to facilitate the decisions that many municipal authorities have to make when it comes to prioritizing dumpsites for remediation and adopting an appropriate remediation plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste represents a largely untapped source of raw material in many countries, as resource recovery rates remain generally low despite most of the disposed stream being composed of recoverable material. Reliable waste characterization data are the primary measure in shaping effective waste recovery strategies. Normally, such data are scarce in low and middle-income countries and if it exists, it is generally incompatible and commonly based on assumptions rather than scientific studies. This study aims to assess the determinants of waste characterization in Lebanon and the implications for planning sustainable waste management systems. Accordingly, three thorough and comprehensive waste characterization studies were conducted targeting three Federations of municipalities. Results revealed that the organic fraction is the most prominent in household waste followed by plastics and paper. Unlike the quantity of recyclables that was proportional to income level, organic waste and income level were inversely proportional. The high amount of organic waste along with recyclables make composting and recycling feasible solid waste management processes that can substantially reduce the amount of waste to be landfilled. Thus, negating the need for land particularly in areas where land availability is a challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of solid waste is a major determinant for sustainable development due to the social, economic, and environmental implications that the sector can have on public health and the environment. Generally, the practice of solid waste disposal by means of landfilling in developing countries is below par resulting in numerous open dumps/uncontrolled landfills that lack the necessary remedial and control measures. Several models and approaches have been applied for the environmental assessment of uncontrolled landfills that depend on complex physical models and probabilistic concepts that are normally difficult to use, involve large amount of data and thus are time consuming and costly. This research aimed to formulate a pragmatic methodology that can be utilized in low- and middle-income countries where comprehensive environmental assessment studies are scarce. The proposed methodological framework can guide decision makers in prioritizing sites for remediation according to their potential for contamination of surface and groundwater as well as air. A pilot basin and dumpsite were selected to test the methodology. Application of the methodology provided plausible results on the significance of the impacts on water resources and air quality and provided a systematic approach to guide the decision-making process on the need to rehabilitate the dumpsite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste management remains a major challenge for many developing countries where unsanitary and environmentally damaging practices, such as open dumping and burning of wastes, are consistently utilized as means of waste disposal. This study aimed to assess the impact of local dumpsites in a region in Southern Lebanon and to assess/determine the level of pollution they cause on local ecosystems and the concomitant risks to public health. Accordingly, soil and water samples were collected from the seven dumpsites that were investigated over the course of two seasons. Several biological, chemical, and physical parameters were examined, with the results being utilized to calculate a number of environmental indices. Results indicated that several soil parameters including TN (700–2400 mg/kg), pH (8.3–8.7), COD (39–1995 mg/kg), and sulfate levels (17.8–301.6 mg/kg) were altered by the dumpsites. Heavy metal concentrations varied between dumpsites; however, the most commonly prevalent metals across all dumps were Fe (992–41,500 mg/kg), Cr (17.4–139.5 mg/kg), Zn (24.1–177.4 mg/kg), Cu (9.42–148.2 mg/kg), and Mn (25.2–776.5 mg/kg), though recorded concentrations exceeded permissible limits only in certain instances. Evidently, soil samples collected at dumpsites had higher concentrations compared to the samples collected away from dumpsites reaching 27 times more in certain locations. The altered parameters have a direct effect on soil fertility and, if biomagnified, could disrupt crop yields and impact human health. Physiochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations in water samples were not significantly altered and were found to be within permissible limits. However, it is crucial to develop a monitoring and remediation plan to decrease the percolation of leachate to water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many low and middle-income countries, solid waste management (SWM) systems remain weak and lack standardization. Moreover, these systems fail to account for citizen's insight on the proposed solid waste initiatives. This study aims to identify the main determinants of SWM practices in a low-middle income country while accounting for citizens' perceived knowledge, attitudes, structural barriers, and willingness to pay for different services. Three communities were thus selected with varying socioeconomic factors and where different SWM practices were adopted. A cross-sectional study based on an interviewer-administered questionnaire was conducted across the three areas. Our results showed that increased knowledge and awareness of proper SWM did not correlate with people's attitudes nor with their adoption of positive waste management practices, such as reusing, reducing, recycling, and sorting of waste. Nevertheless, the results showed that the presence of an effective SWM system in a community positively influenced people's attitudes. Structural determinants, including the lack of appropriate facilities and adequate infrastructure, weak public knowledge on sorting, recycling, and composting, as well as the absence of guiding policies, appeared to be core barriers hindering the adoption of sustainable waste management practices across the three communities. The results of this study highlight the importance of establishing integrated SWM systems in developing countries, as they appear to trigger positive behaviors by the serviced citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers are increasingly being subjected to increased anthropogenic pollution stresses that undermine their designated uses and negatively affect sensitive coastal regions. The degradation of river water quality is attributed to both point and nonpoint sources of pollution. In this study, we determine the relative contribution of point and nonpoint pollutant loads in the Beirut River basin, a poorly monitored seasonal Mediterranean river. Water quality samples were collected on a weekly basis over 2 consecutive years (2016 and 2017) from four sampling sites that represent a gradient of increasing urbanization. Flow-concentration models were first developed to estimate total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and total suspended solids (TSS) loads reaching the different sub-basins. The performance of the regression models varied by location and by pollutant, with improved performance in the downstream sections (adjusted R2 66% for TP and 59% for TN). Loads were also determined using the Beale's ratio method, which generally underestimated the loads as compared with the regression-based models. The relative contribution of the nonpoint source loads were then quantified using the Open Nonpoint Source Pollution and Erosion Comparison Tool (OpenNSPECT). The results showed that point sources were the main cause of water quality impairment across the entire basin, with load contributions varying between 75% in the headwaters and 98% in the urbanized downstream sections. The adopted modeling approach in this study provides an opportunity to better understand pollutant load dynamics in poorly monitored basins and a mechanism to apportion pollution loads between point and nonpoint sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research seeks to examine the fundamental environmental management principles that have been violated and how their adoption may remediate solid waste management practices in Lebanon. The study will enrich the more traditional approaches to assessing environmental problems by identifying the factors facilitating and impeding improvement in some contexts but not others. The root cause analysis methodologies were utilized to systematically disclose the underlying components that contribute to the impairment of contemporary solid waste structures. The principles of subsidiarity, precautionary, and cost internalization are in direct correlation with the identified root causes and are capable of propagating the beneficial outcomes associated with integrating environmental management perspective into the strategic planning process. Integrated and sustainable waste management strategies that aim to rectify the intrinsic dysfunctionalities of contemporary structures should be developed from the bottom-up and ought to adopt a precautionary approach to management, while utilizing economic measures to finance operational costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid waste management is a multifaceted task that incorporates a diverse set of shareholders and operations. To create a sustainable solid waste management system, governments should select the most advantageous organisational structure, given a country's current setting; contextualising the sector's administrative structure in accordance with a nation's organisational constraints. This research aimed to determine the recommended level of administrative and financial decentralisation for each solid waste management operation and explore the susceptibilities and prospects of each level of governance in Lebanon. Primary data was gathered from environmental experts and concerned organisations using a semi-structured in-depth interview. Results revealed that the optimal model for solid waste management in the case of Lebanon incurs devolving collection, which would assimilate local populations into the decision-making process and reduce opposition towards devised solid waste management plans. Delegation and the construction of centralised treatment facilities is recommended as it incentivises municipal cooperation and permits the installation of methodologies and technologies that reflect the limitations, public attitudes, and waste dynamics of each distinct geographical territory. Deconcentrating disposal would limit the number of landfills constructed and facilitate monitoring. Administrative and constitutional reformations that clearly define the roles and responsibilities of public agencies would reduce the influence of the central authority on peripheral states. The establishment of municipal cooperation models would diminish regional economic disparities by enhancing the level of communication and collaboration between subnational bodies. The performance of decentralised strategies should be continuously monitored to ensure that local administrators are held accountable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While technical and economic feasibility of water reuse projects is requisite for implementation, issues in relation to cultural values, public acceptability, and perceptions should not be marginalized. This research focuses on examining the Lebanese stakeholders' knowledge, perception, and attitude toward the reuse of treated wastewater and on exploring potential enabling factors. Accordingly, in‐depth interviews were conducted with stakeholders from concerned ministries, Lebanese Farmers Syndicate, farmers, and religious figures. The reported perceived barriers are categorized into ethical, religious, social, and economical. Various enabling factors that can ameliorate the management of potential perceived barriers are recommended, including enforcing laws, setting new regulations and quality standards, involving the public all through the project process, ensuring regular monitoring and evaluation, and developing financial policies and mechanisms. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:000–000. © 2019 SETAC Key Points: The risks found to be associated with the implementation of a water reuse project in Lebanon are ethical (social justice and trust in authorities), religious (delivering safe water quality), social (location of treatment plant and consumers' acceptance to use treated wastewater), and economical (commitment of end users to pay imposed charges).Enabling factors that can ameliorate the management of potential risks were recommended, including enforcing existing laws; setting new guidelines, regulations, and achievable quality standards; involving the public through project planning, design, and implementation; regular monitoring and evaluation; and developing financial policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals comprise an extensive group of compounds whose release into the environment has potential adverse impacts on human health and aquatic ecosystems. In many developing countries the extent of the problem and the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in water bodies are generally unknown. While thousands of tons of pharmaceutical substances are used annually, little information is known about their final fate after their intended use. This paper focuses on better understanding the management of human-use pharmaceutical wastes generated at the residential level within the Administrative Beirut Area. A survey encompassing 300 households was conducted. Results revealed that the majority of respondents were found to dispose of their unwanted medications, mainly through the domestic solid waste stream. Willingness to participate in a future collection program was found to be a function of age, medical expenditure, and the respondents' views towards awareness and the importance of establishing a collection system for pharmaceutical wastes. Respondents who stated a willingness to participate in a collection program and/or those who believed in the need for awareness programs on the dangers of improper medical waste disposal tended to favor more collection programs managed by the government as compared to a program run by pharmacies or to the act of re-gifting medication to people in need. Ultimately, collaboration and coordination between concerned stakeholders are essential for developing a successful national collection plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that water is becoming progressively scarce, monitoring water quality of rivers is a subject of ongoing concern and research. It is very intricate to accurately express water quality as water quantity due to the various variables influencing it. A water quality index which integrates several variables in a specific value may be used as a management tool in water quality assessment. Moreover, this index may facilitate communication with the public and decision makers. The main objectives of this research project are to evaluate the water quality index along a recreational section of a relatively small Mediterranean river in Southern Lebanon and to characterize the spatial and temporal variability. Accordingly, an assessment was conducted at the end of the dry season for a period of 5 years from 2005 to 2009. The estimated water quality index classified the average water quality over a 5-year period at the various sites as good. Results revealed that water quality of the Damour River is generally affected by the anthropogenic activities taking place along its watershed. The best quality was found in the upper sites and the worst at the estuary. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in very high levels may indicate potential health risks to swimmers. This study can be used to support the evaluation of management, regulatory, and monitoring decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alike many developing countries, Lebanon lacks a national wastewater management strategy that can effectively protect public health and environmental quality. This has led the local communities and municipalities to plan and implement their own arrangements for wastewater treatment systems. However, most municipalities still lack the human and financial resources, management capabilities, and environmental awareness necessary to implement wastewater management in an environmentally sound manner. As such, the effectiveness of these systems, particularly with regard to the quality of the treated effluent, warrants evaluation. Accordingly, a performance evaluation of the treatment/disposal systems, taking three villages in Al-Chouf Caza in Lebanon as a case study, was carried out. The conducted field work, visual assessment, and laboratory analyses of effluent discharges revealed that the existing systems for wastewater treatment in the three villages are either not properly functioning or operational but ineffective and, consequently, hardly achieve any treatment higher than primary. Although developing countries are being encouraged to implement wastewater treatment systems with the promise of financial aid from developed nations, it is important that local conditions are considered carefully to make full use of any aid. It is very crucial to take into account the economic status of the community and the municipality in question. There is no point in adopting the most advanced technology for wastewater treatment if there is no mechanism to ensure maximum efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last two decades, urban noise has been increasing rapidly, primarily in urban areas, due to population growth and the increase of certain noise sources. The main objective of this paper is to assess the sources and possible impacts of the community noise problems in Lebanese urban areas, particularly the Greater Beirut Area. The causes and effects of community noise pollution are briefly presented. Sound pressure levels that were measured to define existing noise exposure levels in various locations in the Greater Beirut Area are also presented. The attitudes toward noise pollution and perceived annoyance impact on a sample of 1,038 exposed residents are described. The association between measured noise levels and sources, as well as annoyance, is examined using correlation analysis and linear and multiple linear regressions. A set of recommendations is presented to reduce community noise problem in Greater Beirut Area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reuse of treated wastewater, whether direct or indirect, can raise public concerns as a result of the overall risk perception. As such, community acceptance plays a significant role in the implementation of alternative water systems. Public attitudes towards water reuse are highly influenced by perceived health risk, religious prohibition, political issues, and the degree of human contact with recycled water. In most of the Mediterranean countries, wastewater is reused to different extents either within planned or unplanned schemes. Unfortunately, there are few in-depth studies of the socio-cultural aspects of reuse projects in developing countries, and Lebanon is no exception. Accordingly, this research will comprehensively tackle the issue of public knowledge, perceptions, and acceptance from different perspectives in an effort to provide national baseline information on wastewater reuse that is needed for future regulatory and developmental projects. As such, a survey was developed, tested, and administered. Results showed an inverse relation between the degree of human contact with the treated wastewater and public acceptance. People were found to be more inclined towards reuse for purposes with minimal human contact such as landscaping and agriculture with opposition when it came to use for personal use. Moreover, the results showed a general lack of trust in governing institutions and authorities, which could explain perceived health risks and perceptions of risk resulting from system failure. Overall, the willingness to use treated wastewater was found to vary as a function of the “disgust factor,” religious beliefs, and perceptions of a high risk towards contracting waterborne diseases. The disgust towards reuse of treated wastewater was found to be a strong predictor affecting willingness to reuse whereby those who believed it is disgusting to reuse treated wastewater were found to be on average, three times less likely to reuse treated wastewater as compared to those who did not declare disgust. Similarly, a significant association was found between religious beliefs and respondents’ willingness to use treated wastewater. Interviewees who thought treated wastewater reuse is not religiously accepted were, on average, twice less likely to use treated wastewater as compared to those who did not believe that reuse contradicts with their religious beliefs. Additionally, people’s perceptions on associating the spread of water-borne diseases with reuse were found to be significant. Those who perceived that reusing treated wastewater would lead to diseases and affect the human health, were on average, twice less likely to accept reuse. Developing a comprehensive strategy that integrates increasing awareness and knowledge, setting policies related to water reuse, building public trust and communication channels, increasing public participation/engagement in decision making, and developing a sustainable management framework is thus crucial before any investments are made in reclaimed water-reuse projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]