Skip to main content

The rubbish crisis is back in Lebanon, and so is #YouStink

Lebanon's #YouStink movement returns to social media a year after the government announced plans to solve the growing garbage crisis
Beirut's Jdeideh neighborhood has seen uncollected rubbish pile up in the streets (AFP / Anwar Amro)

Social media has seen a resurgence of anger and resentment by Lebanese citizens towards their government for failing to adequately organise rubbish collections a year after the first protests over the crisis.

Refuse workers have reportedly been on strike as the weekend saw the pile-up worsen.

Last month people took to the streets of Beirut to protest the new waste management plan which proposed opening new landfills to deal with the overflow of rubbish that has plagued many towns including Burj Hammoud- an overpopulated neighbourhood that made headlines for its "garbage mountain".

#YouStink returns

Translation: How delicious

Worse than rubbish

Translation: Here is a picture in front of the entrance of a school...There is nothing left to say if this is our present for future generations...This is how the history books are going to remember the head of state and government as rubbish

https://t.co/gDqE0dba6K
https://twitter.com/locke/status/783960781943672832
 

Translation: The rubbish problem in Lebanon matters more to the people than not having a Head of State

The discontent over the rubbish crisis represents deeper social and economic issues affecting Lebanon.

With Lebanon being without a president for more than two years, the lack of solutions for waste management are a sign of its dysfunctional political system.

Stay informed with MEE's newsletters

Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked

 
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.