The Council of Ministers approved a plan to produce five megawatts of power from the Abey landfill in Naameh using generators running on methane.

The dumpster currently produces power only to sustain its premises. At least ten villages including Baouerta, Ain Drafil, and Naameh, will benefit from the power generation project, according to Abey Mayor Ghassan Fakhreddine.

The landfill operates half a megawatt from a generator operating on methane gas as a test. “At least a dozen similar generators are required to feed the 500 plus households in the area,” he said.

Networks are already being installed and will be completed within a month, according to Fakhreddine. Power generation is expected to be 24 hours seven days a week.

The Council of Ministers instructed the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) with overseeing implementation.

The landfill will be shut down for good in 2015, but it will continue to generate power, according to Fakhreddine.

The ministries of Finance and Interior were asked to expedite the payout of municipal dues and financial incentives to the towns surrounding the landfill. “The law gives us the right to be compensated with $6 per ton of waste. Unfortunately, this 15-year old law hasn’t been applied so far,” said Fakhreddine.

Last May, the Parliament enacted a law to financially support municipalities that host and are near the landfill. The support will be added to the annual Municipal Fund amount allocated for each municipality.

Municipalities surrounding Abey-Ain Drafil landfill will be given an annual incentive of $5 million. These include Baouerta, Aramoun, Ain Ksour, El Binyeh, Bsatin, Kfar Matta, Dkoun, Damour, Naameh, Khalde, Choueifet, and Mechref.

Abey-Ain Drafil will receive $1.6 million yearly, or 30 percent of the incentive. The remaining $3.3 million will be split among the other municipalities.