Conflict Incident Report

Residents and the Naameh Municipality vowed Thursday not to allow the reopening of the area's landfill despite a pledge by Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb that the state would not exceed the seven-day period determined by his plan to solve Lebanon’s waste crisis.
"The temporary use of the (Naameh) landfill will not exceed this period by one hour," Chehayeb said in a statement issued by his Progressive Socialist Party press office.
He underlined that the PSP "has been at the forefront of political powers that demanded the permanent closure of the landfill and will not allow its reopening."
"The plan only determines the reopening of the landfill temporarily and for a limited period of time," the statement said.
Chehayeb said that all the necessary measures were taken to ensure that the landfill will be used to produce energy for the surrounding areas after the seven-day period, urging municipalities to follow up on the plan and ensure its accurate implementation.
Meanwhile, the head of the environmental committee at Parliament, Marwan Hamade, called for a meeting on Monday in presence of Chehayeb.
The meeting is set to discuss the minister's plan and listen to remarks by waste management specialists who helped shape the plan.
In a statement Thursday, Naameh's municipality said it would not agree on reopening the landfill "even for one hour."
The Campaign to Close Naameh Landfill also vowed to keep it shut. Activists held a protest at 5:00 p.m. at the facility's entrance, warning authorities against using force to implement the decision. Activists from the You Stink campaign, which has taken a hardline stance against the reopening of the landfill, joined the protest.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Sep-10/314709-agricul...