Salam holds meeting on new waste fee proposal
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday chaired a meeting at the Grand Serail to discuss a draft decree seeking to amend Decree No. 3214 of June 15, 2026, concerning fees imposed on waste-generating materials.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Chairman of Parliament’s Economy Committee MP Farid Boustany, head of the Economic Bodies and former minister Mohammad Choucair, Economic and Social Council President Charles Arbid, General Confederation of Lebanese Workers President Bechara Asmar, and Beirut Traders Association President Nicolas Chammas.
Following the meeting, Boustany described the issue as complex and requiring adequate financing. He said participants proposed securing revenues from alternative sources to ease the burden on citizens and avoid imposing additional taxes.
For his part, Arbid praised Salam’s participatory approach, particularly the government’s engagement with labor, economic bodies and other productive sectors.
Arbid said the Cabinet would begin discussing the decree later in the day, stressing the need to address the waste issue and implement the law without placing additional burdens on lower-income groups or undermining business continuity and production amid the economic downturn.
He described the discussions as encouraging, adding that the proposals would be further studied before participants reconvene on Tuesday with new ideas aimed at reaching solutions that reduce the burden on all sides.
