Kataeb MP Elias Hankach on Wednesday sharply criticized what he described as the ongoing “crime” of turning Jdeideh–Sed El Bouchrieh, one of the most densely populated areas along the Metn coast, into a landfill, holding political and local authorities directly responsible for the worsening waste crisis.

Speaking to Voice of Lebanon, Hankach accused “MPs, ministers, political parties, and heads of municipal unions” of complicity in the establishment of the Jdeideh dump, saying it represents “a crime against the residents of the Metn district.”

“The real issue today lies in the ongoing crime of flooding our streets with garbage,” he said, calling for swift and practical solutions to prevent further deterioration.

Hankach urged the government to reinstate the “swapping” mechanism that had been previously used as a temporary fix by transferring waste from the Metn and Keserwan areas to the Costa Brava landfill for a period of five to six months. He said this short-term measure would help contain the crisis while authorities work on a permanent and sustainable plan.

“The long-term priority must be to keep sanitary landfills away from groundwater sources and densely populated residential zones,” Hankach said.

He warned against remaining trapped in “a vicious cycle of temporary fixes,” urging the creation of permanent, well-equipped waste sorting and treatment centers across the country.

While his comments focused primarily on the waste crisis, Hankach also welcomed the Lebanese Army’s first progress report on its disarmament plan, saying it reflected “a serious government and a capable army that can build a weapons-free state.” He described the developments as “historic,” marking “the beginning of a new Lebanon.”

On the regional front, he noted Hezbollah’s acceptance of the Gaza agreement as a possible sign of “greater wisdom,” expressing hope that the group’s leaders would “shift from confrontation to cooperation by handing over their weapons to the Lebanese Army and contributing to nation-building.”