Waste Fires Choking Israel, Causing Thousands of Deaths Annually
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Waste fires across Israel are causing widespread smoke and odor issues, with a new "Suffocation Map" detailing over 23,000 public reports. These fires are estimated to burn half a million tons of waste annually, contributing significantly to air pollution and linked to approximately 4,700 deaths per year. The Citizens for Clean Air organization is calling on political parties to present plans to combat the crisis ahead of elections.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Approximately 23,000 reports detail widespread waste fires across Israel, creating a "Suffocation Map."
- Annual waste fires burn an estimated 500,000 tons of waste, significantly impacting air quality.
- These fires are linked to 75% of airborne carcinogen emissions and one-third of PM2.5 pollution.
- The pollution from these fires is associated with about 4,700 deaths in Israel annually.
- Citizens for Clean Air urges political parties to present plans to address the waste fire crisis.
- The organization encourages public reporting of fires and odors via a dedicated WhatsApp hotline.
Residents across Israel, from the Galilee to Beersheba, are repeatedly reporting smoke and the smell of fires. A new "Suffocation Map of Israel," compiled from approximately 23,000 reports received by the Citizens for Clean Air organization, illustrates the widespread impact of waste fires nationwide. The map, released ahead of "National Suffocation Day" on October 11, aggregates public reports gathered since April 2024, highlighting recurring incidents from the northern Golan Heights to the southern Arava desert.
Key areas with numerous reports include the heart of the Galilee, Lower Galilee, Menashe, Southern Sharon, Ono Valley, Modi'in region, Benjamin, settlements north of the Dead Sea, and the Beersheba area. The organization estimates that around half a million tons of various types of waste are burned annually in Israel. According to data from the Ministry of Environmental Protection cited by the organization, these fires are responsible for 75% of airborne carcinogen emissions and about one-third of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions.
Exposure to PM2.5 from all pollution sources is linked to approximately 4,700 deaths in Israel each year and severe respiratory illnesses. "The Suffocation Map of Israel demonstrates that waste fires are not a local or isolated problem, but a national plague," stated Yaniv Bleicher, CEO of Citizens for Clean Air. He added that the roughly 23,000 reports collected over two and a half years underscore the scale of the phenomenon and its ongoing impact on residents' quality of life, with many reporting health symptoms during fire events.
In anticipation of upcoming elections, the organization is urging party leaders to present a clear action plan to the public for tackling waste fires and the broader waste crisis in Israel. Citizens for Clean Air also encourages the public to report waste fires, smoke, or odor nuisances via their WhatsApp hotline at 054-9562220, noting that the hotline operates 24/7 and reports are immediately forwarded to relevant authorities.
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