Silman presents plan to tackle illegal waste burning in West Bank, new landfill planned

Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman presents the main points of a strategic plan to deal with illegal waste burning in the West Bank and halt resulting pollution that crosses the Green Line into Israel.

As an immediate move, the ministry has allocated NIS 40 million ($12.4 million) to help rehabilitate one of two landfill sites serving the entire West Bank and to hire additional inspectors, including at checkpoints along the Green Line, where trucks illegally transport Israeli waste for burning in the West Bank to avoid paying Israeli landfill fees.

Silman’s plan calls on the Israeli Civil Administration — which is responsible for civil affairs in Area C of the West Bank, the area under full Israeli control — to fast-track building permits for a new landfill site at Ramun, near Ramallah.

The site will include a sorting facility and will be open for use by Israeli settlements, too.

A long-term plan foresees the establishment of two additional waste treatment sites at Tarkumiya, northwest of Hebron in the southern West Bank, and at Rantis, northwest of Ramallah.

A new hotline for public complaints about air pollution emanating from the fires will be established with the participation of the Environmental Protection and Finance Ministries, the Fire and Rescue Service, Israel Police, and the Civil Administration.

An additional three air monitoring stations will be established along the Green Line.

Silman, who unveiled her plan at a raucous meeting of the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, is asking the Finance Ministry for NIS 134.6 million ($41.7 million) to enable the Civil Administration to employ additional inspectors, investigators, and prosecutors, and to boost inspections along the Israeli side of the Green Line as well, where illegal waste burning is also taking place, primarily in Arab municipalities.