He also pledged to hold accountable those responsible for using “excessive force against civil society and against the people”.
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Salam told the protesters he is ready to have a dialogue with them, while about 100 protesters outside the building chanted “leave, leave”.
The mood in central Beirut was tense, one day after dozens were wounded after security forces fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons on protesters.
The clashes broke out shortly before sunset when angry protesters tried to break through barbed wire in Riad Solh Square leading to the government’s headquarters.
The garbage collection crisis started in Beirut last month after the capital’s overflowing landfill was closed.
The Red Cross said on its official Twitter account that 16 people were transferred from the fracas to a hospital Sunday and 23 the day before.
He called on Lebanon’s cabinet to meet this week to find a solution to the crisis, railing against political divisions that have paralysed the country’s institutions.
The piles of trash were largely removed from sight in the capital in recent weeks, but anger grew when it emerged that much of the trash was simply being dumped elsewhere in the country.
Lebanon is in the midst of a political crisis as it does not have a president and parliament has just perpetuated itself after being unable to agree to new elections.
Meanwhile, in southern Lebanon, sporadic clashes continued in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon between Islamists and the mainstream Fatah movement. The lack of reliable basic services in the country, including water, electricity, and garbage pickup, has a long history that was exacerbated by the civil war, the subsequent political settlements, and periodic Israeli military strikes.
Many at Saturday’s protest were joining the movement for the first time and were pushed to action after seeing images of violence perpetrated by security forces.
Some of the protesters threw rocks and set rubbish on fire.
But the presidency has been vacant since Michel Suleiman’s term expired more than a year ago, and filling it requires a political deal many believe can only be brokered by Iran and Saudi Arabia.
“They’re living large while we’re paying the price”, Mr Bouchebel said of politicians and their beneficiaries. “Let all officials and political forces bear their responsibilities”.
Bazzi hailed the release of all protesters detained by police during Saturday’s demonstration as a victory for the movement, but said they would not rest until those who attacked them were held accountable.
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The country’s public debt stands at about 143 percent of gross domestic product, a government source said.
