Residents of north Lebanon protest government plan to haul trash to their area

Lebanese anti-government protesters shout slogans as they hold their national flags, during a protest against the on-going trash crisis and government corruption, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. Lebanon's prime minister says he hopes that political talks between senior politicians will help end government paralysis that has sparked angry street protests. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) (The Associated Press)

Lebanese riot policemen remove barbed wire that blocks a road leading to the parliament building after meetings among political leaders as people protest against the on-going trash crisis and government corruption in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam said he hopes that political talks among senior politicians will help end government paralysis that has sparked angry street protests. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) (The Associated Press)

Dozens of residents and activists in northern Lebanon are protesting government plans to address an urgent trash crisis in Beirut by opening a new dump in their region.

During the Thursday protest, activists and local officials threatened to physically stop vehicles carrying tons of garbage that have piled up in Beirut if they make their way to the Akkar district.

Zaher al-Kassar, a local official, says "Akkar will not be your dump."

Large protests in Beirut began in July after authorities closed the capital's main landfill without providing an alternative.

Late Wednesday, the government said it will start two new landfills, including one in Akkar, and will reopen the old one for a week to immediately get rid of tons of trash. Residents living near the old dump also protested.