In a grim replay of Lebanon’s long-running waste crisis, RAMCO/Altas-B announced on Tuesday, that it had completely suspended garbage collection in Metn, Keserwan, and administrative Beirut following the closure of the Jdeideh landfill, which has stopped receiving additional waste.

In a statement, the company said it had previously warned the relevant authorities about the immediate repercussions of the closure, cautioning that waste accumulation has now spiralled out of its control. It added that operations will only resume once the landfill is officially reopened.

Speaking to kataeb.org, Jdeideh–Sed–Bouchrieh Mayor August Bakhos called on the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) and the relevant ministries to reactivate the “swapping” mechanism previously implemented for four months. Under that arrangement, waste from Costa Brava was transferred to the Jdeideh landfill. Bakhos suggested temporarily reversing the process, allowing waste from Metn and Keserwan to be sent to Costa Brava until a permanent and sustainable solution is found.

With no clear resolution in sight, Bakhos said the Jdeideh–Sed–Bouchrieh Municipality had prepared an environmental emergency plan,  which includes setting up small temporary waste collection points within its jurisdiction in coordination with the contractor responsible for street cleaning and garbage collection. He added that surveillance cameras have been activated to monitor illegal dumping and prevent violations by neighboring municipalities.

Beyond emergency measures, Bakhos outlined a series of requests submitted to the Cabinet, including:

• Granting the municipality ownership of the landfill’s surface, as a rightful claim after bearing the crisis’s burden for years;

• Financing methane gas–to–energy production through State funds, as part of an eco-friendly waste management initiative; 

• Establishing a solar power network for the area, with full licensing, to turn the challenge into a sustainable development opportunity.

Residents fear a renewed buildup of uncollected trash on the streets, along with its associated health and environmental risks. Meanwhile, temporary fixes appear insufficient, making it urgent for the authorities to act swiftly to prevent another environmental disaster.