After the selection of the SMEs that would undertake the In- plant demonstration phase for the plastic sector with the LCPC, the first site visit took place to collect primary data and sign the binding contract between LCPC and each of the selected SMEs. Following to the first one, a series of site visits to SMEs took place on September 2007. The purpose of these site visits was to detect other possible CP options applicable to each of the SMEs under the Plastic Production and Recycling sector. It was necessary to conduct more than one site visit to the plastic factories in order to generate CP options adapted to the economical and environmental needs of the five pre-selected SMEs. The international expert, Dr. Fresner from Stenum was present in the site visits along with the LCPC team and the national CP assessors. Following to the site visits, and based on several researches and studies, the CP options were identified according to each SME.

There is no specific legislation on CP in Lebanon , but there are some general regulations governing the use of polluting substances. The 5 plastic SMEs would apply the voluntary regulation by implementing the CP options to increase their competition in the regional and the international markets.

The five selected Plastic SMES are:

First and Second workshop for the Plastic Production and Recycling sector.

Following the first site visit, the LCPC organized the first workshop in the In-plant demonstration phase. This workshop targeted representatives from the 5 SMEs selected under the sub-sectors of Plastic Production and Recycling. It took place at the IRI premises on the 3 rd of May 2007. a All participants of this workshop were trained in CP concept and methodologies and informed of the steps involved in the In-plant demonstration process in which they were participating. During the workshop, LCPC team presented the material on CP options and methodology to decision-makers and owners of selected SMEs in addition to the selected national CP experts. By means of concrete examples from previous case studies, the LCPC team demonstrated that avoiding waste can be turned into profit. LCPC, after launching the CP concept in the Plastic Production and Recycling Sector, pursued the In-plant demonstration phase for this sector namely site visits and the 2 nd workshop.

The second workshop is the second and essential step in the In-plant Demonstration phase for the industrial sub-sector of Plastic Production and Recycling which targeted the managers and owners of SMEs under this sub-sector. The workshop took place on the 11 th of September 2007 at the IRI premises. The decision-makers from the five selected plastic processing SMEs in addition to the CP experts and to representatives from the IRI attended the event.

LCPC and the international expert from Stenum presented the material on environmental management, feasibility analysis and evaluation of CP options and introduction to environmental indicators. During the seminar an overview and evaluation was made on how to fulfill the CP reports and how to deal with the data collected at the first site visits to the factories.