A new facility for managing healthcare waste

For years, the issue of infectious healthcare waste in Lebanon has been acknowledged as dangerous. Hospitals, particularly public ones, have struggled with limited capacity, unclear disposal pathways, and mounting environmental risks. The opening of Lebanon’s first public hospital-based infectious healthcare waste treatment facility signals a shift away from crisis management and toward a more structured, sustainable system.

In an interview with The Beiruter, Hisham Fawaz, Head of Hospitals and Medical Facilities at the Ministry of Public Health says, “this project is crucial. in Lebanon, a large portion of medical waste is either stored improperly, mixed with general garbage, or dumped openly. This is extremely harmful to the environment, contaminating groundwater and soil, and spreading disease.”

Located at Beirut Governmental University Hospital Karantina, the new facility introduces a centralized, regulated approach to treating infectious medical waste. Funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), it serves healthcare providers across Beirut and Mount Lebanon, regions that generate a significant share of the country’s hazardous medical waste.

Medical waste and public safety

Lebanon produces more than 12,000 tons of hazardous healthcare waste every year, including contaminated materials, sharps, and infectious byproducts. Yet only around 60 percent of this waste is treated safely. The remainder risks being dumped in landfills, mixed with municipal waste, or disposed of through informal and unsafe practices, posing serious threats to public health, sanitation workers, and the environment.

According to Fawaz, the facility is expected to address roughly 20 percent of Lebanon’s medical waste, offering a practical alternative to unsafe storage, transport, or traditional treatment methods that contribute to pollution and health risks.

From emergency fixes to infrastructure

What distinguishes the Karantina facility is the model it introduces. “This is an autoclave system, also called a microwave treatment system,” explained Fawaz. “It sterilizes medical waste without burning it, without emissions, and without releasing any toxic gases like dioxins or furans. There are no chimneys or harmful smoke, and the system is closely monitored to ensure the safety of workers and the surrounding community.”

At full operation, the facility will be capable of treating up to seven tons of infectious healthcare waste per day, significantly reducing pressure on landfills and limiting unsafe disposal practices. The initiative also strengthens infection prevention and control standards in public hospitals, an especially critical concern in a country where health systems have been repeatedly strained by economic collapse, fuel shortages, and public health emergencies.

UNDP has described the project as a move beyond temporary or emergency responses toward a system that combines infrastructure, regulation, and local capacity.

Governance, environment, and accountability

The launch of the facility comes amid broader efforts to reform waste management in Lebanon. The Ministry of Environment has emphasized that the waste crisis is not only a technical challenge but also one rooted in governance, financing, and oversight. Recent initiatives have focused on updating the national waste management strategy, introducing cost-recovery mechanisms, forming a national waste management authority, and digitizing the sector to improve transparency and traceability.

“This facility was established in full compliance with legal procedures and official approvals, coordinated with all relevant authorities, and in line with both local and international environmental and health safety standards,” Fawaz added.

A foundation for expansion

While the facility will initially serve Beirut and Mount Lebanon, its broader significance lies in its potential scalability. As Lebanon looks to rebuild trust in public services and strengthen essential systems, healthcare waste management is an area where progress can produce immediate and measurable benefits.

The facility is expected to become fully operational by April 2026. If successfully implemented and maintained, it could set a precedent for how Lebanon approaches other environmental and healthcare challenges through coordination, long-term planning, and investment in public infrastructure, rather than short-term fixes.