The Lebanese government on Thursday approved the temporary expansion of the Jdeideh landfill to accommodate waste from Metn, Keserwan, and parts of Beirut, setting a 2026 deadline to stop dumping and permanently close the site once it reaches capacity.

According to a statement issued following the session chaired by PM Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail, the government authorized the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) to create a new landfill cell at the existing Jdeideh site under specific technical and environmental standards. The facility is to stop receiving waste by the end of 2026 or once it reaches capacity, after which it will be permanently closed. Until then, waste will continue to be deposited in the current cell.

The Cabinet also instructed the CDR to establish a power generation plant that would harness energy from landfill gas. Under the decision, the Municipality of Jdeideh will have the right to operate and benefit from the generated electricity. Additionally, municipalities were granted the authority to issue licenses for new waste treatment facilities.

Jdeideh-Bouchrieh-Sed Mayor Auguste Bakhos, who attended the session, said the municipality supports the expansion only if it is tied to a sustainable and clearly defined waste management plan.

“We cannot move forward with expanding the landfill unless there is a clear and lasting solution,” Bakhos said. “If the expansion proceeds, it must be temporary. We also presented several demands, including using the landfill’s surface for municipal benefit and setting a specific deadline to stop dumping.”