Trash build up in Beirut, Lebanon
Trash litters the street in the Bourj Hammoud suburb of Beirut, Lebanon on Sept. 2, 2021. There is more trash being left as trash collectors are unable to obtain enough fuel to fill the tanks of their vehicles. Fuel shortages also contribute to electrical outages. The state only provides 2-3 hours of electricity per day to Beirut, so people must rely on solar power and generators that require diesel fuel, which is not easy to obtain because it is sold on the black market at higher rates. For a private generator service, providers charge LL1 million or about $666.67 at the official exchange rate per 5 amps, enough to power an AC unit for on room, a cost higher than a month’s rent for many Lebanese, which is more than many can afford.