The Nature Conservation Center at the American University of Beirut (AUB-NCC) held the closing ceremony of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Project, funded by the EU, titled “Beyond Recycling: Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability at the Heart of Lebanon’s Reform Agenda” at the Issam Fares Lecture Hall at the American University of Beirut (AUB). The event gathered representatives from government, academia, civil society, United Nations and donor agencies, and technical sectors to highlight achievements and outline future directions for sustainable recovery in Lebanon.
The initiative was implemented under the BINA’ project subgrants funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by Transparency International Secretariat (TI-S) and Transparency International Lebanon – No Corruption (TI-LB). It aimed to address the pressing issue of construction and demolition waste in Lebanon, while advancing circular economy practices and contributing to the country’s broader reform agenda.
In his remarks, Minister of Industry Joe Issa El-Khoury underlined the economic and industrial potential of construction and demolition waste recycling. He stressed that recycling rubble could reduce Lebanon’s reliance on imports, strengthen local industries, and generate new jobs, thereby transforming a longstanding challenge into an opportunity for economic resilience.
Speaking on behalf of the donor community, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Lebanon Cyril Dewaleyne reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Lebanon’s environmental and economic transition. He noted that waste management is not only an environmental imperative but also a pathway to job creation, public health protection, and long-term sustainable development.
Senior Project Lead at Transparency International Lebanon Rony Zgheib emphasized that while the project had reached its conclusion, it marked the beginning of a longer journey of reform. He called for strengthening partnerships between authorities and stakeholders to ensure that the project’s recommendations are integrated into Lebanon’s ongoing reform efforts.
From the academic perspective, Dr. Fadlo Khuri, president of AUB, underscored the university’s role in advancing research, innovation, and consensus-building. He highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to make circular economies a reality in Lebanon, demonstrating that even in times of crisis, the country can pioneer sustainable solutions.
Dr. Yaser Abunnasr, director of AUB-NCC, welcomed participants and reaffirmed the Center’s mission of bridging research and policy for the public good. Antoine Kallab, associate director of AUB-NCC and project lead, presented the project’s key outcomes and forward-looking recommendations, developed through extensive research, stakeholder consultations, and policy analysis.
The ceremony also featured two expert-led panels. The first, “Leveraging Aid and Reform to Drive Lebanon’s Green Transition,” examined how donor support and governance reforms can accelerate sustainable recovery. The discussion was moderated by Raghda Kawass, knowledge and public policies specialist at the Business Practice and Policy Initiative at AUB’s Olayan School of Business. Panelists included Dr. Lamia Mansour, senior environmental specialist at the World Bank Group; Dr. Ishac Diwan, professor of practice of economics at AUB; and AUB-NCC Associate Director Antoine Kallab.
The second panel, “From Waste to Opportunity: Scaling Industrial Recycling in Lebanon for Long-Term Growth,” focused on the role of industrial recycling in fostering entrepreneurship, corporate responsibility, and economic resilience. The session was moderated by Sophie Mansour, senior sustainable landscape management specialist at the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative. Panelists included Dr. Issam Srour, professor at the AUB’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the project’s technical expert; Sustainability Consultant Hasmig Khoury; and Cluster Manager at Berytech Ingrid Salloum.
The event concluded with a presentation by Dr. Issam Srour, who outlined strategic directions for embedding construction and demolition waste management into Lebanon’s reform agenda. A networking session followed, providing participants with a platform for discussion and collaboration.
For the full policy brief From Waste to Value: A Policy Approach to Establish a Recycling Industry for Lebanon’s Construction and Demolition Waste, please visit this link.
About AUB
Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut bases its educational philosophy, standards, and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. A teaching-centered research university, AUB has more than 790 full-time faculty members and a student body of over 9000 students. AUB currently offers more than 140 programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, MD, and PhD degrees. It provides medical education and training to students from throughout the region at its Medical Center that includes a full-service 365-bed hospital.
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