Industrialists: To sort
trash before it is exported

Recycling factories are at risk of closing

The Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) called for sorting the garbage before exporting, if the Government adopts the exporting option.

Fadi Gemayel, Chairman of ALI, said: “We refuse exporting the garbage without sorting it, as this will impact the economy, mainly the industry, and local labor.”

This request from ALI comes after the failure in implementing the municipalities’ decentralization plan and proposing the export of garbage.

According to ALI around 30 percent of the garbage is being recycled, as it includes important raw materials for several industries such as carton, cardboards, plastic, metal, and glass. “Industrialists will miss out on the opportunity of benefiting from these raw materials. This will lead to the closure of several factories and lay off employees,” he said.

“Industrialists need these raw materials and exporting them will drastically harm the factories,” said Gemayel.

There are more than 500 factories that use sorted plastic, according to ALI. Other factories that use sorted cartons and glass are also in jeopardy.

Recyclable industries are green and eco-friendly industries that are supported by all countries. The Central Bank signed last week an agreement with the Ministry of Environment to support loans for green industries at low interest rates.