The Zahle solid waste treatment and disposal facility currently treats municipal solid waste generated from Zahle and neighbouring municipalities; totalling 250 tons per day.

The facility relies on a mechanical and biological treatment technology which consists of a two stage process. Mechanical processing stage aims to separate recyclables, potential contaminants from organic fractions of the waste stream. This process utilizes mechanical equipment such as sieves, conveyor belts, magnetic and ballistic separators, in addition to manual sorting.

Biological treatment relies on aerobic composting of organic waste through bio-degradation, which ultimately results in brown compost like product that is biologically stabilized, reduced in moisture and pathogenic substances, thereby minimizing potential harmful emissions.

Following MBT treatment, residual waste that cannot be recycled or composted will be sent to the sanitary landfill. Landfilling is the most inexpensive safe disposal option whereby waste is disposed to land in engineered cells that create barriers between the degrading waste and the environment. Barriers mainly consist of:

• Leachate collection system whereby waste is isolated from the environment by synthetic plastic liners that prevents percolation of leachate into the surrounding aquifers and instead collected for specialized treatment.
• Gas collection system that traps and treats greenhouse gas emissions (methane) to limit air pollution.

OMSAR’s intervention in this facility consisted of the following:

• Extension of the existing facility to add a new composting unit
• Addition of new mechanical sorting and composting equipment to the facility