The garbage mountain of Saida

Context

Story:

Since the early 1980s the garbage deposit site in Saida has been open and since then it has only grow in size. In 2008 the garbage mountain on the site was 50 meters high and 375 long. It consists mainly of household waste, construction waste, industrial and farmland waste and waste from butchers and hospitals. On Lebanon’s southern coast there is a constant south-west wind, which blows the gasses which have built up on the garbage mountain towards Saida on a regular basis. Toxins often find their way into the sea. In the past 5-6 years it has become common for trash to fall into the sea. In February 2008, 150 tonnes fell into the ocean as a result of an earthquake. The wind also carries the trash towards northern beaches. According to an article about the port of Saida, the Iskandar Bay between the old port and the new port is to be developed to become more attractive for tourist. The promenade has been redeveloped; enough space has been created for cafes and street merchants. However, what one finds in the bay is beyond any expectation. At the southern end of the bay, there once was a beach but now that beach is covered with plastic bottles, plastic bags, and lots of other garbage. That is not exactly a great advertisement for a tourist town such as Saida. South of the Bay a busy dustman is doing his job. Holding a broom and a garbage can, he cleans the sidewalk of the Rafic El Hariri Street. One would think that all the garbage he collects goes into the trash but here the trash lands next to the sidewalk. With so much trash already there what harm can a little extra do? Is that the garbage mountain of which so much has already been reported? Between the fresh spring green and the yellow of the Crown Daisies the car tires and construction garbage is heaped. Even a dog has found his last resting place here under the open sky. Now the garbage mountain of Saida comes into sight. You can already smell it before you lay eyes on it. Behind the buildings a green mountain covered in many flowers. White wagtails and sparrows have found a home here, if only the smell was not so bad. In the summer it will be much worse.

The garbage mountain of Saida

Context