NNA - Prime Minister-designate, Tammam Salam, and Premier Najib Mikati, on Monday discussed the thorny dossier of the garbage landfill of Nehme region and its vicinity, in light of a fresh meeting for the area's municipal heads, who promised an open-end strike following Sukleen's decision to suspend collecting wastes from in Beirut and Mount Lebanon.



Mikati told Salam that he had met with the Ministers of Interior and Environment, Head of the Environment House committee, Head of the Council for Development and Reconstruction, and a Sukleen representative. Mikati added that conferees agreed to issue decrees hereby allowing the reimbursement of arrears due to the concerned municipalities in Nehme region. They also agreed to include the thermal decomposition of waste on the agenda of the Cabinet's next first session, and to task an international audit bureau to control the waste sorting and recycling operations undertaken by Sukleen.



Salam made it clear that these measures were a prelude to following up on the issue of Nehme landfill. He called upon the officials in municipalities and environment activists to carry on dialogue with the competent state authorities to protect the safety of citizens and environment in Lebanon.


===========================R.A.H.