Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

plastic pollution

A lionfish hides behind a rock as researchers monitor the Mediterranean Sea. (Guy Ra'anan and Mikey Bar-Adon)
January 28, 2025, 10:28 am
The Eastern Mediterranean is heating twice as fast as the global average – report
Research finds sea level rising almost 40% faster than global average, water is saltier, and invasive species comprise more than half the prey caught in sampling nets
By Sue Surkes
Israeli startup MadeRight develops fungi-based alternative fossil-derived plastic packaging. (Courtesy)
August 24, 2023, 6:43 pm
Israeli startup pulls in $2 million to use fungi for eco-friendly plastic packaging
MadeRight is developing sustainable materials using mushrooms for packaging to reduce the environmental impact of plastic
By Sharon Wrobel
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man buys disposable plastic dishes in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood, January 20, 2023. (Oded Balilty/AP)
February 28, 2023, 10:40 am
Knesset scraps disposable plastic tax, satisfying Haredi coalition demand
Environmentalists angered by reversal of price hike on single-use utensils and plates, but ultra-Orthodox community views former government’s tariff as attack on its way of life
By ToI Staff
Plastic bags with bottles for recycling in Jerusalem, September 8, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 12, 2023, 9:57 pm
After hedging, government says it will cancel entire tax hike on sugary drinks
Shas chief Deri welcomes move as fulfillment of election promise; measure, which was motivated by health concerns, has been slammed by ultra-Orthodox as targeting them
By ToI Staff
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man buys disposable plastic dishes in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood, January 20, 2023. (Oded Balilty/AP)
January 30, 2023, 7:04 pm
Disposable plastics trigger culture war, testing government cohesion
A tax on single-use tableware that took a bite out of pollution is seen by ultra-Orthodox as an assault on their community; repealing it became a priority for Haredi parties
By Ilan Ben Zion
Disposable plastic tableware for sale at a supermarket in Givat Shaul, Jerusalem, October 27, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 29, 2023, 6:52 pm
Cabinet votes to scrap disposable plastic tax, a demand of the Haredi community
With ultra-Orthodox using disproportionate amount of single-use tableware, ministers agree to seek a less costly alternative to reduce single-use plastic
By Sue Surkes
Israelis enjoy the beach in Tel Aviv on a hot day, July 9, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
October 30, 2022, 7:44 pm
More than 2 tons of microplastics pollute Israel’s coast, say researchers
Tel Aviv and Hadera beaches are found to be most polluted out of six tested, likely because they are close to streams, say Tel Aviv University scientists in new study
By Sue Surkes
A sea turtle entangled in a polypropylene sack. (Shai Feldman)
September 18, 2022, 11:17 pm
Plastic waste responsible for 1 in 3 turtles brought to treatment center
Numbers point to ‘no less than an environmental emergency,’; all dead turtles subjected to autopsy had plastic in digestive tracts
By Sue Surkes
Then-environmental protection minister Gila Gamliel at the annual Jerusalem Conference of the 'Besheva' group in Jerusalem, on March 15, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 26, 2022, 9:49 am
Likud opposes its own lawmaker’s bill to widen tax on plastic bags
Coalition rallies to support Gila Gamliel’s legislation, but falls a vote short after Ra’am chair accidentally votes against; Knesset advances 2 similar bills proposed by coalition
By ToI Staff
This illustrative photo from January 19, 2020, shows microplastic debris that has washed up at Depoe Bay, Oregon. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky)
March 26, 2022, 6:56 pm
In 1st, scientists find microplastics in our blood, warn they could be inside organs
‘This is proof that we have plastics in our body — and we shouldn’t,’ says ecotoxicologist who took part in Dutch study
By AFP
Elishya Ben Meir, an 18-year-old Israeli, safely disposes of abandoned waste after registering it on the 'Clean Coin' mobile application as she walks her dog in the town of Kiryat Tiv'on near Israel's northern city of Haifa on October 20, 2021 (JACK GUEZ / AFP)
November 10, 2021, 8:58 am
Trash into treasure: Israeli start-up gives virtual coins for picking up garbage
Clean Coin app deposits credit for people who collect litter, which can then be exchanged for goods, activities and vacations
By Alexandra Vardi
Disposable plastic tableware for sale in Givat Shaul, Jerusalem, October 27, 2021 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 1, 2021, 10:32 am
Disposable plasticware prices soar as new tax introduced
Environment Ministry says higher levies on single-use cutlery, dishes could cut purchases by 40%; Minister Zandberg: ‘Israel’s addicted to disposable plastic and it’s time to quit’
By ToI Staff
Plastic waste in the sea. (dottedhippo/iStock by Getty Images)
September 12, 2021, 3:23 pm
Over 7,000 animals injured by plastic last year, says Nature and Parks Authority
Launching new drinking bottles with SodaStream, authority says birds feed plastic to their chicks; fish mistake it for edible crabs; gazelle bellies full of plastic bags, wet wipes
By Sue Surkes
Disposable plastic forks (Ewloskalw, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia)
July 20, 2021, 3:41 am
Israel’s Technion to ban most disposable plastic from October 1
Review finds that during 2019, Haifa institute bought over 2.3 million disposable cups, nearly a million single-use teaspoons and hundreds of thousands of other single-use items.
By Sue Surkes
Plastic waste discarded on a beach in Israel. (Screenshot)
July 19, 2021, 5:18 pm
Disposable plasticware prices to double in 2022 under new tax proposal
Finance and environmental ministries say 100% levy on disposable plasticware, which would go into effect in early 2022 pending Knesset approval, could cut purchases by 40%
By ToI Staff
Load More
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.