Abstract:
Waste mismanagement is considered a global environmental concern, especially in the
Global South countries. Several environmental initiatives were held to enhance the path
towards a more sustainable management of waste. Extended Producer Responsibility
(EPR), with its multi-various schemes, is considered a pivotal approach to sustainable
management that has been successfully adopted for different waste streams in various
Global North countries and is in the process of implementation in some Global South
countries. The EPR approach requires producers to take on the financial and/or physical
responsibilities of managing their waste in the post-consumer phase. Despite its wider
adoption, Lebanon, which is in a serious waste crisis, still lacks such environmental
regulations and concepts. This thesis aims to investigate the feasibility of integrating
EPR into Lebanon’s waste management system by assessing the understanding of this
concept among the plastic and electronic industries and their role in contributing to
sustainable waste management, investigating the challenges that might be encountered
in the adoption of EPR in Lebanon, and exploring the opportunities and steps to address
these challenges and prepare for seamless integration of EPR. In-depth interviews were
conducted with representatives from different sectors, including plastic, electronics, and
governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The findings revealed a notable gap in EPR knowledge. While electronic retailers often
lack an understanding of EPR, enterprises operating in international marketplaces
display higher expertise and proactive participation. The primary challenges to EPR
adoption in Lebanon are several. The informal sector, which dominates the waste
collection, poses a significant structural problem due to its irregular operations and lack
of connection with official institutions. Lebanon's financial instability, as well as the
high costs of recycling infrastructure and procedures, prevent both government and
private sector participation. Inefficient legislative systems and weak legislative
frameworks are considered regulatory barriers to implementing EPR, which are
exacerbated by the corruption and inadequacies of public administration. Despite these
challenges, stakeholders are eager to implement sustainable waste management
solutions. Some industries are already launching voluntary take-back programs. The
study emphasizes that effective EPR implementation in Lebanon needs clear
cooperation between the government, producers, NGOs, and local communities, as well
as a robust legal framework and enforcement.