(haipo) 110 mayors and councils from all over the country, including Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, Kiryat Bialik Mayor Eli Dokorsky, Kiryat Yam Mayor David Even Tzur, Tirat Carmel Mayor Dudu Cohen, Kiryat Motzkin Mayor Zvi Tsiki Avissar, Dalit El Carmel Mayor Rafik Halabi, and Usfia Mayor Muniv Saba, sent a joint letter to the heads of all parties running in the Knesset elections demanding a commitment to a comprehensive national emergency plan to address the waste crisis and waste fires, which will be formulated and approved within 100 days of the next government being sworn in.
A national crisis that crosses municipal borders
In the letter, the heads of authorities warn that illegal waste dumping and waste burning continue to expand across the country, damaging open spaces, polluting the air, harming public health and quality of life, and imposing a burden on local authorities that they cannot handle alone. According to the heads of authorities, this is a national crisis that crosses municipal boundaries, requiring government leadership, dedicated budgeting, and coordination between all parties: government ministries, local authorities, enforcement agencies, and professional bodies.
"The next government is required to move from the phase of discussions and declarations to the phase of implementation," the appeal states. The heads of authorities are demanding that the plan include measurable goals, clear timetables, and dedicated resources to deal with the crisis.
Israel lags behind OECD countries
According to the data presented in the letter, Israel lags significantly behind OECD countries in waste management. Approximately 75% of municipal waste is still buried in the ground, while the infrastructure for source separation, recycling and waste treatment is far from providing a response to the volume of waste generated. Millions of tons of waste of various types are dumped in open areas and on the outskirts of settlements every year, and waste fires that break out at illegal sites cause severe air pollution that is responsible for 75% of the emissions of carcinogenic substances into the air in Israel and about a third of the emissions of PM2.5 particles – an air pollutant that kills approximately 4,700 Israelis each year and causes severe respiratory illness.
The steps required from the next government
Among the steps required by the heads of authorities as part of the plan:
- Significant strengthening of enforcement and supervision systems
- Increasing manpower and providing advanced enforcement measures
- Increasing deterrence and punishment
- Support for authorities dealing with waste hazards
- Strengthening firefighting and rescue capabilities in dealing with waste fires
- Promoting edge solutions and infrastructure
- Detection, removal and rehabilitation of illegal waste sites.
The heads of authorities are asking all parties to present their position and present a clear commitment to work towards implementing the plan after the elections.
"It's time to move from talk to action"
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav He addressed the letter and said: "The waste crisis and waste fires have long ceased to be a local problem. It is a national, health and environmental hazard, which requires the State of Israel to take responsibility. Local authorities are on the front lines and are doing everything they can, but without clear government policy, effective enforcement, delegation of authority, appropriate infrastructure and budgets, it is impossible to defeat the phenomenon. It is time to move from talk to action. The health of residents and their quality of life cannot wait."
Other local authorities join the call
Kiryat Ono Mayor Michal Rosenshein added: "The burning of waste across the country has been going on for a long time. The authorities are dealing with the matter on one front, but this requires deep and thorough treatment at the national level. One of the tasks of the government that will be established will be to emphasize promoting a clear national plan, including budgets, manpower and effective enforcement, in order to eradicate the burning of waste." The head of the Bnei Shimon Regional Council, Nir Zamir, noted that "the damage and burning of waste harms the health of all of us and places an unbearable burden on the authorities. In today's reality, 75% of the waste is buried and open areas are becoming pirate dumps. The next government must take responsibility, allocate budgets and strong enforcement measures, and move from words to actions on the ground."
Citizens for Clean Air welcomes the move
The Citizens for Clean Air organization welcomed the letter. The organization's CEO Yaniv Bleicher He said: "We see this move as a significant step, which illustrates the extent to which the waste crisis has become an issue that crosses authorities, sectors and political camps, and directly affects all residents of Israel. We hope that the joint appeal of the heads of authorities will lead the parties to treat the issue with the necessary seriousness and to detail to the public now what they intend to do to work to significantly reduce waste fires and illegal waste dumping."
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