Knesset to recycle construction waste law

The Knesset is considering a bill which would force local authorities to assume responsibility for clearing waste from building sites under their jurisdiction, Haaretz reported on Wednesday morning.

The Knesset’s Internal and Environmental Affairs committee will weigh an amendment to the existing law regulating waste collection and disposal sites, which currently places the responsibility of clearing construction site waste on the contractor.

The proposed amendment would require local authorities to be responsible for proper disposal of construction waste, a move meant to ensure proper and lawful transfer to landfills. Building permits would be granted only after the contractor agrees to coordinate waste pickup with the local authority.

According to a recent report by the Israel Union for Environmental Defense (Adam Teva v’Din), there are four tons of construction waste created every year across the country, only half of which ends up in authorized landfills and dumps. The rest is dumped illegally, causing harm to the environment.

Linor Sagi, who manages environmental projects for the local authority committee, told Haaretz there were two clauses local authorities would like changed in the proposed amendment.

“There should be administrative, not criminal, accountability,” Sagi said. She also said local authorities should have more flexibility regarding the sum they can charge from contractors in order to dispose of the waste.