Baladi Compost

The context

Waste management has been a chronic problem in Lebanon since the 1990s, and is the result of national political inertia that is hampering the country's opportunities for development and growth. Municipalities, which are legally responsible for waste management, have delegated the task to private companies - notably Sukleen, which has maintained a monopoly in the sector for almost twenty years - accused of being close to the government, corruption and embezzlement. In 2015, a waste crisis erupted in the summer after the companies stopped collecting, leaving the country crumbling under the weight of its waste, with all the environmental and health consequences that entails.

According to Sweepnet's April 2014 report, 15% of waste generated is composted, 48% ends up in landfills and 29% in uncontrolled dumps, while 52% of waste in Lebanon is organic and recyclable. Landfills no longer meet standards and are overcrowded, as demonstrated by Bourj Hammoud, nicknamed 'the mountain of garbage'. In 2010, the Ministry of Environment put the cost of environmental degradation caused by landfills at $10 million per year, with a steady increase over time.

The project

In response to this chronic and deep-rooted crisis, a group of young people launched an initiative to offer an alternative based on the will of people motivated by positive change. Thanks to a financial contribution from the Diane Foundation in 2017, Compost Baladi was created as a social enterprise with the aim of transforming organic waste into compost at different scales. By bringing together national and international experts with expertise in waste management, natural resources, environmental science and public policy, Compost Baladi offers integrated and accessible solutions.

The services offered are straightforward, providing bio-waste collection for different types of clients (municipalities, universities, private residences, food processing industries, shopping centres, etc.) who work with the company on the project to ensure it is economically and environmentally viable and profitable. A composting service will be offered to enable everyone to have the necessary and appropriate means to manage their organic waste from the comfort of their own home, while obtaining an additional resource (compost). The 'Earth Cubes' (composting units) sold have a minimum capacity of 10kg of organic waste per 1m2. Soil improvement products are also sold - compost is a natural fertiliser that improves water retention and soil porosity, improves the structure of sandy and clay soils, etc. Compost Baladi offers a range of products for homes, gardens, specialist shops and farms, such as mushroom compost and pinecone nuggets.

In addition to the services directly related to waste management, Compost Baladi offers its consultancy services (feasibility studies, monitoring and quality control, etc.) to development agencies and private stakeholders wishing to develop tailor-made solutions.

Compost Baladi has gone from strength to strength, winning first place in the social entrepreneurship section of the 12th Arab Start Up competition in 2019. The networking, visibility and funding provided by the company's positive growth and the event have given Compost Baladi the means to focus on its next goal: building an infrastructure where it can develop a decentralised waste management solution for restaurants and large producers of organic waste.

The results

The company has been profitable since 2019 and employs six full-time and four part-time staff. The various services provided have diverted 4,500 tonnes of solid organic waste from landfill, saved 84,000 plastic bags, avoided more than 30 tonnes of methane (equivalent to 1,260 tonnes of CO2) and produced more than 600 tonnes of compost. In addition to these positive impacts, 100,000 people have been educated about recycling and composting, and more than 450 people (refugees, farmers, local authorities) have been trained in waste management and related subjects.

Little extra

Compost Baladi offers integrated solutions to make composting as easy and accessible as simply throwing out your rubbish. This facilitative approach has enabled them to expand rapidly, with 50 composting units already installed at the American University of Beirut (AUB), in businesses, homes and a Syrian refugee camp in Ersal in eastern Lebanon.

This leaflet was written by Lana Khouildi, LFC volunteer in January 2023.

Sources:

• https://information.tv5monde.com/info/crise-des-dechets-au-liban-les-raisons-de-la-colere-49615
• https://ecoswitchcoalition.creation.camp/investment-teaser/compost-baladi-2

Last modification : 29 Dec 2023.