Residents of Tripoli wake daily to thick clouds of black smoke as people burn tyres and electrical wire to extract copper, raising health and environmental concerns.
Residents of Tripoli are waking nearly every morning to dense clouds of black smoke covering parts of the city, accompanied by foul odours that have become routine and are alarming both the public and local authorities. The repeated occurrence has sparked widespread concern about the health and environmental toll on the population.
The smoke originates from the burning of tyres and electrical wire to extract copper from inside them. This practice releases large quantities of smoke that spread through residential neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Burning tyres, plastic materials and the insulation around wires produces a mixture of pollutants, fine particulates and harmful gases. These substances degrade air quality and increase respiratory risks, particularly for children, the elderly and those already vulnerable to air pollution.
The problem extends beyond visible smoke and odours. Random burning also leaves ash and contaminated residue that can migrate into soil and water, transforming what appears as daily annoyance into a broader environmental crisis requiring sustained intervention and strict oversight.
Residents of Tripoli are calling on relevant authorities, including the municipality and the governorate of North Lebanon, to act urgently. They are asking for stricter monitoring of burning sites, identification of those responsible and enforcement action against violators to prevent continued exposure to these emissions.
The appeal gains weight because Tripoli already bears multiple environmental pressures tied to population density, traffic, diesel generators and waste. Any additional source of air pollution compounds the existing health and environmental burden on residents.
The municipality of Tripoli and the North Lebanon governorate have not yet announced specific measures or a timeline for addressing the issue. No statement from local officials responding to the public concerns has been made public.
Without intervention, residents warn that the morning smoke will continue as a seasonal fixture of life in the city. Those engaged in the copper extraction say the practice offers income in a context of economic collapse, though they have not publicly defended the environmental cost.
The outcome depends on whether authorities allocate resources to monitor and enforce against the burning, and whether alternative livelihood options emerge for those currently engaged in copper extraction. For now, residents face continuing exposure to the emissions each morning.
Environmental damage from the burning accumulates daily without remediation. Soil and water contamination spreads as ash settles, potentially affecting agricultural land and drinking water sources in areas near burning sites across Tripoli and its surroundings.
