In the midst of Lebanon's massive waste crisis coupled with the influx of more than 1.3 million Syrian refugees (making Lebanon the country with the highest concentration of refugees, by far), one company is tackling both issues head on.
"Our goal is to build a green economy that will create jobs for Lebanese and Syrians alike, clean up the environment, and provide a working model for managing refugee crises around the world," the Indiegogo crowdfunding page explains.
Recycle Beirut launched in 2015 after Lebanon's government proved itself impotent in the face of mounting piles of untreated garbage. Since then, the company has grown to employ a staff of 17 Syrian refugees, including many working mothers.
The organization seeks to expand and grow its operation while creating more jobs for refugees and Lebanese, and it has turned to crowdfunding for help.
"We could hire dozens and eventually hundreds more, but we need capital equipment, namely more trucks, forklifts, baling machines, shredders, and a larger sorting facility. This is why we are asking for your help."
The company's process is simple. Individuals from the community can register for the service and employees will pick up recyclables directly from their homes. These will be sorted and transferred to appropriate recycling facilities throughout Lebanon, reducing the overall amount of waste produced.
The effort may be dwarfed by the sheer scale of the crisis, but with our support it can become bigger, more relevant and hopefully inspire others like it.