Greenpeace Israel calls on Jerusalem and other municipalities to stop recycling their promises and start recycling trash.
Recycling has improved over the past decade in Israel. Hiria, a large garbage dump in Tel Aviv, has transformed into a recycling center, metals are starting to be recycled, and some urban recycling bins have become targets for artists. But there is still a long way to go. Organic waste still ends up in Israeli landfills for the most part, despite the promises of several municipalities. Greenpeace Israel is starting a new campaign tomorrow morning to call these municipalities’ bluff. Their first target is Jerusalem.
Before the municipal budgets for 2012 are finalized, Greenpeace Israel intends to call on all Israeli cities to implement more sustainable recycling and composting solutions.
“City by city, we will ask mayors to take responsibility and implement a plan to separate waste at the source and install two bins (organic and dry) for each home, building or business in the city,” writes Greenpeace Israel.
Of 251 local authorities, only 31 have implemented the Environmental Protection Ministry’s project and requested assistance in separating waste at the source. Of these 31, only one – Emek Hefer – has actually succeeded in separating organic waste throughout the entire municipality.
Seven other municipalities are currently in various stages of separating organic waste at the source in certain neighborhoods.
These are success stories, but on too small a scale. According to Greenpeace Israel, these are “miniscule amounts in relation to the great quantities of garbage, and residents cannot properly recycle if the municipal authorities do not create an appropriate infrastructure to separate waste.”
Read more about the Greenpeace campaign on the event’s page on Facebook (in Hebrew).
Read more about recycling in Israel::
Organic Waste Collection and Composting in the Works for Israeli Municipalities
Recycling Bins Take the Form of Art in Tel Aviv
Finally, Koala Recycling Solutions Offers A Way to Recycle Aluminum Cans and Other Metals in Israel
Hiria: A Garbage Dump Turned Recycling Dream
Image via: Leah Jones
Author: Karen Chernick
Much to the disappointment of her Moroccan grandmother, Karen became a vegetarian at the age of seven because of a heartfelt respect for other forms of life. She also began her journey to understand her surroundings and her impact on the environment. She even starting an elementary school Ecology Club and an environmental newsletter in the 3rd grade. (The proceeds of the newsletter went to non-profit environmental organizations, of course.) She now studies in New York. Karen can be reached at karen (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
echut ha sviva in herzliya has not been able to help. where can wee recycle compact flourescent bulbs? we can’t find a solution and are holding on to these items for a long time.
thanks,
urie
With all that Israeli’s have to worry about I am impressed that there is any progress at all. Any small victory is still a victory. Please keep up your efforts.
Hey, this sounds promising! I was visiting a friend in Beit Itzhak the other week & saw their composting bins – I was so jealous! Living in Tel Aviv is fantastic, but recycling/re-using/composting awareness is wa-a-ay too low here, in my opinion. We recently moved to an apartment & now have no composting capabilities. I assume we will invest in/develop a roof-top system, but actually, why does it need to be so difficult!? Why do I feel like I’m fighting an up-hill battle every time I put the environment before convenience. I hope hope hope this gets off the ground SOON! I’ll do my best to spread this article 🙂