EU funded project to treat solid and organic waste in rural areas

The first conference of the LandcareMed project was organized last week at the Lebanese University (LU) focusing on the theme of “treatment of rural waste: scientific aspects and capitalization”.  The conference aimed at developing and building the capacities of local organizations and institutions to enable them to address the issue of household and rural organic waste in an economic and sustainable manner.  The project is jointly implemented by LU, Haret Saida and Zebdeen – Nabatieh municipalities, as well as Decimoputzu municipality and Cagliari University in Italy, and the Higher School of Rural Equipment Engineers (ESIER), in addition to Madjez al Bab municipality in Tunisia. The project has secured funding form the EU through a Euro 2 million grant from the ENPI CBC MED initiative.
The director of the Laboratory of Materials, Catalysis, Environment and Analytical Methods (MCEMA), Tayssir Hamieh, noted that this project will utilize a contemporary processing facility based on micro thermal degradation that will help treat solid organic waste through producing biological coal, which itself is a source of energy as well as a fertilizer.  He added that the project is entering its first phase which will extend over two years, and will include raising awareness on issues related to household waste.  Hamieh further added that citizens will be full partners in this initiative through sorting solid waste at home.  The project coordinator, Maria Laura Foddis, noted that the programme is not exclusive to the public sector but also is open to private sector and civil society as well as universities.  The project director at the Zebdeen municipality, Kassem Tufeyli, noted that the first phase has indeed kicked off and is focusing on a sample of 50 families (circa 200 individuals) and is also targeting restaurants, schools and commercial shops.
Source: Al-Safir 22 November 2014