110 local authority heads issue severe warning: "The next government must act"

110 local authority heads, from Tel Aviv to Dimona, warn political parties about Israel's severe waste crisis. They demand a government commitment to an emergency plan including enforcement, recycling infrastructure, and treatment of illegal sites, against the backdrop of data showing 75% of waste is still landfilled.

110 local authority heads from across the country, including mayors of major cities such as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Netanya, Herzliya, Ashkelon, Bat Yam, Ra'anana, Kfar Saba, Lod, Ramla, Hadera, Beit Shemesh, Rahat, and Dimona, have issued a severe warning ahead of the elections. They demand that political parties commit to a national emergency plan to address the waste crisis. According to the data presented, about 75% of municipal waste in Israel is still landfilled, a high rate compared to OECD countries. The separation, recycling, and treatment infrastructure is insufficient. The situation is particularly severe in open areas, where millions of tons of waste are dumped annually at illegal sites, which become fire hazards causing significant air pollution. The local authority heads emphasize that local authorities cannot handle the problem independently and demand broad government intervention, including enhanced enforcement, stricter penalties, resource allocation, strengthening firefighting forces, establishing treatment infrastructure, and locating, clearing, and rehabilitating illegal dumping sites. The letter calls on parties to move "from the stage of discussions and declarations to the stage of implementation."