Industrial-waste management in developing countries: The case of Lebanon

This paper presents a critical assessment of the existing Lebanese industri al sector, namely the current status and classification of industrial estab lishments based on a comparative synthesis and analysis of recent nationwid e surveys and studies pertaining to industrial-waste management. Characteri sation of solid and liquid industrial wastes generated including hazardous wastes, is presented together with current and projected waste loads, recyc ling opportunities, and export/import practices. Institutional capacity and needs pertaining to the enforcement of relevant environmental legislation, staffing and resources, monitoring schemes, and public participation are c ritically evaluated. Finally, realistic options for industrial-waste manage ment in the context of country-specific institutional economic and technica l limitations are outlined. The industrial sector in Lebanon consists of sm all-scale industries (84% employ less than 10 persons), primarily involved in light manufacturing (96%). These industries which are distributed among 41 ill-defined zones and deficient in appropriate physical infrastructure, generate solid, liquid, and hazardous waste estimated at 346 730 tons/year, 20 169 600 m(3)/year and between 3000 to 15000 tons/year, respectively. Al though the growth of this sector contributes significantly to the socio-eco nomic development of the country (industry accounts for 17% of the gross do mestic product), in the absence of a comprehensive environmental management plan, this expansion may not be sustained into the coming millennium. The anticipated expansion will inevitably amplify adverse environmental impacts associated with industrial activities due to rising waste volumes and impr oper waste handling and disposal practices. These impacts are further aggra vated by a deficient institutional framework, a lack of adequate environmen tal laws, and lau enforcement of regulations governing industrial-waste man agement. (C) 2001 Academic Press.