BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Cabinet ended an acrimonious meeting on Tuesday with no solution to a trash crisis that has sparked protests and calls for the government’s resignation.

After more than five hours of talks, the Cabinet decided to reject a list of tenders for waste management contracts across Lebanon and refer the issue to a ministerial committee for review.

“Given the high prices (quoted by would-be contractors), the council of ministers has decided not to approve the tenders and is charging the ministerial committee with finding alternatives,” a Cabinet statement said.

The decision came after a session that saw six ministers from one political bloc walk out.

For months, the 18-month-old government has been paralyzed by political disagreements between its two main blocs, rendering decision-making virtually impossible.

The cabinet meeting came after a weekend of protests that began over a trash crisis but evolved into an outlet for deep-seated frustrations at the government’s impotence.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Saturday and Sunday for demonstrations organized by the “You Stink” campaign.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Tammam Salam acknowledged protesters’ frustrations and warned that his government risked becoming irrelevant if it could not address the public’s concerns.

“We’re heading toward collapse if things continue as they are,” he cautioned. But Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting appeared unable to resolve the issues that brought protesters out for a rare display of non-sectarian anger on a social issue.

It was intended to discuss a list announced Monday of companies that qualified to bid for new waste removal contracts across Lebanon.

The list had drawn fire from activists who said the firms were tied to political figures and were seeking exorbitant prices. Several ministers also criticized the proposed costs ahead of the Cabinet meeting.

Lebanon already pays some of the world’s highest per-ton waste collection rates, and local media said the companies sought to raise prices further.

The core of the crisis, which erupted after the closure of the landfill serving Beirut and its surroundings, also remains unaddressed.

When the Naameh landfill closed on July 17, the government failed to identify sites for new landfills or alternative arrangements.

In the absence of a solution, trash began piling up on the streets, until local municipalities started finding temporary solutions — dumping in empty lots, riverbeds and even forests.

Tuesday’s Cabinet statement made no mention of potential landfill solutions.

But it said $100 million (around 87 million euros) of development money was being allocated to the northern Akkar region, which has been proposed as a potential landfill site by some politicians.

Local media said even after new waste management contracts were approved, it could take up to six months for the collection and disposal of Beirut’s waste to begin.