As part of the “Saida Roadmap Towards an Environmentally Sustainable City,” the Hariri Foundation, in partnership with the Bqosta Municipality, launched the “Circular Economy Program in Saida and Its Surroundings (OLA Circles)” by commencing operations at the first project—a facility for sorting non-organic waste in Bqosta.
This initiative is part of a local action plan for the circular economy (CE), sustainable production, and consumption (SCP), aiming to promote the principles and practices of the circular economy, raise environmental awareness, build community capacity, and foster collaborative partnerships and platforms.
The project draws on lessons learned from previous local waste-sorting campaigns and mechanisms. It is implemented under the guidance of the Hariri Foundation’s Outreach and Leadership (OLA) .
The project was inaugurated during a meeting held at the Rafic Hariri High School campus – Saida, featuring a presentation on operational procedures for sorting at source and discussions among local partners to develop effective collaboration mechanisms.
Participants: The meeting was attended by Mrs. Bahia Hariri, President of the Hariri Foundation; Mr. Ibrahim Mazher, Mayor of Bqosta; Mr. George Saad, Mayor of Bramieh; Mr. Ali Al-Sharif, President of the Saida and Suburbs Merchants Association; Dr. Rubina Abou Zeinab, Executive Director of the Hariri Foundation; Mrs. Nadine Zeidan, Principal of Rafic Hariri High School; as well as representatives from environmental and civic associations and members of the Foundation’s team.
Mrs. Hariri’s Remarks
Mrs. Hariri described the “Bqosta Material Recovery Facility – BMRF” as a model project based in Bqosta but serving the entire Saida region and its surroundings. She emphasized the importance of follow-up meetings with educational institutions through the school network, as well as with commercial and industrial sectors, neighborhoods, and community groups to promote and encourage waste sorting.
Hariri highlighted the role of schools in integrating sorting practices into their curricula, thereby transferring environmental awareness to households and accelerating the adoption of these practices. She noted, “The solution to the waste problem lies in adopting sorting at source. To achieve a clean environment and an environmentally sustainable city, we must start here. I hope for cooperation and responsiveness to make this initiative a success as we already have the mechanisms in place.”
Mayor Mazher’s Remarks
Mr. Ibrahim Mazher, Mayor of Bqosta, reaffirmed the municipality’s partnership with the Hariri Foundation. He stated, “As a municipality, we will work together to ensure the sustainability of this facility. The success of this project will demonstrate that public-private sector collaboration can be effective and successful.
For other municipalities, we have devised a solution in coordination with the Hariri Foundation to extend this facility’s services to surrounding areas and address the needs of the Saida-Zahrani Union of Municiplaities. With the awareness campaigns led by institutions and associations, we will collectively ensure the success of this project and achieve a clean environment. We hope this initiative becomes a model to replicate in other regions.”
Project Presentation
Jihad Al-Akoum, representing the Hariri Foundation, presented the operational procedures for sorting at source. He explained that the initiative is part of the “Saida Roadmap Towards an Environmentally Sustainable City,” launched by the Hariri Foundation in collaboration with the Municipality of Saida, the Ministry of Environment (MoE), and the United Nations Environment Program – UNEP. The roadmap addresses seven core environmental sectors, including waste management—a significant challenge for municipalities and coastal areas.
Over the past 20 weeks, the Foundation, through partnerships, launched a local action plan for Sustainable Production and Consumption (SCP), focusing on three key sectors: education, industries, and food and beverage. The approach addressed technical, regulatory, financial, and economic aspects.
Al-Akoum elaborated, “Through the OLA Circles program under the OLA Academy, we are launching an awareness platform with various functions, including monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems to track and encourage sorting behaviors among individuals and institutions in the region.”
Key Objectives
The waste sorting facility in Bqosta was initiated through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Municipality of Bqosta and the Hariri Foundation. This collaboration aims to develop joint programs and operational procedures for the facility, foster partnerships, and ensure community involvement.
The project’s main components include:
Upgrading the facility.
Promoting Circular Economy (CE) principles in communities and schools.
Encouraging responsible environmental practices among individuals and institutions.
Establishing a unique participatory approach between the public sector and civic organizations.
Raising awareness, conducting research, and driving innovation to ensure the initiative’s success and scalability.
Operational Details
A detailed presentation covered the facility’s infrastructure, specifications, and processes, including the types of materials to be sorted, transportation and delivery mechanisms, and the collection center for non-organic materials at Sharhabil Square.
The OLA Circles platform was introduced as a tool for community participation in sorting, offering symbolic financial rewards to incentivize individuals and institutions to engage in the initiative.
Engagement and Discussion
The session concluded with questions and inputs from participants representing various sectors and associations. They discussed registration processes for the platform and other operational aspects, followed by a general debate on the project’s implementation.
For more details about the program, sorting mechanisms, and its other components, visit:
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