Bakalian Waste Storage Site Sampling Methodology and Analytical Report

Under the guidance of UN-Habitat Lebanon, and as part of the emergency response to the massive explosion at the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, IBI Group was commissioned to provide technical oversight and testing for a small-scale trial on the reuse of construction and demolition waste (CDW) for environmentally sustainable urban-restoration developments. This small-scale trial feeds into Rubble to Mountains, a project initiated by UN-Habitat together with UNICEF, Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, Development Inc. in collaboration with the American University of Beirut Neighborhood Initiative. The goal of Rubble to Mountains is to prevent an environmental waste crisis by sorting the volumes of rubble, concrete, iron, plastic, glass, and nylon to produce a material for landfilling in mountains severely eroded by quarrying. The purpose of this small-scale trial was to provide consultancy oversight and gather and analyze air and wastewater samples associated with the rubble-crushing operations at the Bakalian storage and disposal site. It is this rubble that will ultimately be used to restore the mountains eroded by quarrying. Moreover, the report provides insight on the roles and responsibilities of project managers and site workers working with Asbestos.