Rubble Solutions, Not future problems
This is not the first time the Lebanese government has had to address the issue of rubble and debris resulting from Israeli aggression, but we hope it will be the last. This urgent matter requires a comprehensive approach that considers environmental, economic, administrative, and organizational dimensions to ensure sustainable and effective long-term solutions.
General Objectives
Environmental: Reduce the negative environmental impact and eliminate pollution risks caused by rubble and debris (CDW) that may infiltrate soil, air, and water through sustainable recycling and reuse.
Economic: Create local job opportunities and support recycling-based industries.
Governance: Promote transparency and accountability by involving civil society and international observers in implementing and monitoring the strategy.
Key Axes of the Strategy
1. Environmental Axis
Initial Environmental Assessment:
Conduct a comprehensive survey of rubble and debris using appropriate health protection measures and personal protective equipment (PPE) to determine quantities and components, carried out by credible government entities with active participation from the private sector.
Classify debris into recyclable materials and those requiring safe disposal.
Agree on temporary storage sites that comply with environmental standards and environmental impact studies.
Recycling:
Establish specialized recycling centers to process debris and convert it into usable building materials.
Leverage international expertise and partner with specialized organizations in this field.
Environmental Management:
Develop plans to dispose of environmentally hazardous materials, including asbestos and heavy metals, according to international standards.
Conduct long-term environmental quality monitoring to ensure contaminated areas are pollutant-free.
Assess the feasibility of expanding existing landfills and their environmental impact.
2. Economic Axis
Promoting Local Industry:
Support the establishment of local factories reliant on recycled rubble.
Encourage innovation in utilizing extracted materials, such as developing sustainable construction technologies.
Job Creation:
Train and qualify workers on recycling methods and safe handling of debris.
Involve local communities in processing and reconstruction operations.
Costs and Funding:
Secure conditional funding through international partnerships and regional funds.
Allocate a specific budget from the state while enhancing financial oversight to ensure efficiency.
3. Administrative, Organizational, and Legal Axis
Transparency and Public Tenders:
Manage tenders through the public procurement authority to ensure integrity and fair competition, avoiding non-competitive awarding of projects that might benefit opportunists and influential individuals.
Form an independent national body to manage the project, including representatives from the government, civil society, and international organizations.
Publish detailed periodic reports on progress, costs, and outcomes.
International Diplomacy:
Work with international entities to secure funding, adhere to environmental standards, and provide technical support within frameworks of forensic audits.
Utilize efforts in rubble processing as part of strengthening international relations and highlighting Lebanon’s commitment to sustainable development.
Oversight and Accountability:
Appoint independent monitoring bodies to oversee implementation and ensure the absence of corruption or financial waste.
Enhance the role of media in monitoring and highlighting stages of the strategy’s implementation.
4. Urban Planning Axis
Update and reconsider the design and elevations of collapsed or partially destroyed buildings, taking into account urban planning for the most severely damaged sites.
Conduct feasibility studies for buildings with over 40% damage to determine their fate.
5. Legal Axis
Prevent individuals who have encroached on private or public property from rebuilding violations, paving the way for restoring rights to their rightful owners.
Define the economic ownership of rubble and debris.
Implementation Mechanisms
Phase 1 (6 months):
Collect data and prepare environmental and economic maps of affected areas.
Establish or activate the necessary administrative and organizational structures to implement the strategy.
Phase 2 (1-2 years):
Establish or reactivate recycling centers and necessary infrastructure.
Begin actual recycling operations and safe disposal of hazardous materials.
Phase 3 (3-5 years):
Implement reconstruction projects using recycled materials.
Evaluate outcomes and enhance innovation in rubble utilization.
Expected Results
Reduce environmental damage by at least 80% and lower toxic levels impacting public health.
Create thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities.
Strengthen local and international trust in Lebanon’s ability to manage crises transparently and sustainably.
The coalition does not view the rubble resulting from Israeli aggression as mere debris to be disposed of but rather as a test of Lebanon’s ability to turn disaster into an opportunity for recovery and sustainability. Addressing this issue is not just an immediate challenge but an investment in Lebanon’s environmental, economic, and social future.