Med4Waste partner in Lebanon, the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) spearheaded the "Don't WASTE the Future" event, held on September 29, 2023, under the DAWWERA initiative. This event brought together a diverse assembly of municipalities, experts, community-based organisations, as well as local and international entities to address Lebanon's pressing waste issues while presenting innovative solutions.

"Don't WASTE the Future" served as a vibrant platform to showcase the outcomes of ESDU's Med4Waste and WASTE projects, both of which play pivotal roles in addressing Lebanon's complex waste management concerns. Med4Waste is dedicated to promoting optimised waste management governance models across the Mediterranean region. Meanwhile, the WASTE project, funded by the U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), focuses on tackling Lebanon's immediate solid waste management issues by actively involving young individuals and fostering community participation.

The gathering offered an opportunity for key stakeholders to collaborate, fostering the development of a sustainable waste management future for Lebanon. Prior to the event, an exhilarating hackathon organised by the Med4WASTE project engaged participants in a fun and educational manner. During this hackathon, participants collaboratively tackled questions related to the waste management catalogue, showcasing the knowledge they gained from the activity. To cap off the hackathon, the winners were announced and rewarded generously. This added an element of competition and recognition as well as an exciting dimension to the event’s mission of promoting sustainable waste management practices in the region.