From Conflict to Cooperation: A Multi-Methodological Approach to Managing the Solid Waste Crisis in Lebanon

The management of solid waste in Lebanon has evolved into a complex issue, marked by its deleterious environmental, economic, and public health ramifications for both civilians and the state exchequer. Despite the longstanding nature of Lebanon's municipal waste predicament, it escalated to catastrophic proportions in 2015 following the closure of Naameh, the nation's largest landfill. The persisting crisis from 2015 endures due to the government's inadequate and poorly conceived solutions, with the potential to rekindle at any juncture. This paper addresses two fundamental concerns. Initially, a comprehensive portrayal of the municipal solid waste scenario in Lebanon is provided, encompassing its diverse facets. Subsequently, the researchers advocate an integrative approach amalgamating centralized and decentralized systems. Pioneering a strategic proposal to address Lebanon's solid waste predicament, the researchers employ a Journey-Making (JM) methodology to discern direct and indirect actors. Subsequently, a game theory approach, facilitated by the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution (GMCR+) software, is utilized to derive solutions that cater to the satisfaction of all involved parties. The selection of the optimal scenario is contingent upon the available options for the primary stakeholders, factoring in the political, sectarian, economic, and environmental landscape of Lebanon.