Israel Faces Waste Crisis Amidst Government Disputes Over New National Waste Authority

Tensions between Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Finance have escalated, stalling progress on advanced waste treatment facilities amid a growing landfill crisis. Approximately 80% of Israel's waste is buried in landfills, nearly double the OECD average, placing the country among the worst performers in waste management. The national waste strategy for 2021-2030 aims to reduce landfill use to 20% and increase recycling to 54%, targets that remain far from being met.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has struggled with inconsistent leadership and shifting waste policies, as successive ministers overturn previous strategies. Proposals to establish an independent national waste authority, similar to Israel's electricity and water authorities, have been debated for years. The Ministry of Finance has recently pushed for this authority, even drafting legislation last year, which was shelved due to opposition from Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg.

Last month, Zandberg unexpectedly announced the creation of a national waste authority and promised to abolish the landfill levy charged to local municipalities. This declaration came before the interministerial committee had finalized recommendations, sparking controversy. The committee has been deadlocked by professional disagreements between Environmental Protection and Finance officials. Meanwhile, local authorities, burdened by high landfill levies and lacking alternative treatment facilities, have urged the minister to cancel the levy.

The Finance Ministry supports transferring full regulatory control to the new authority, while Environmental Protection professionals oppose this, advocating for retaining regulatory powers within their ministry and only delegating tariff-setting to the authority. They also oppose abolishing the landfill levy but support transferring the management of the Cleanliness Fund to a professional body. The fund's finances are fully allocated years in advance, leaving no available budget for new waste treatment infrastructure.

Due to these interministerial conflicts, a call for tenders to build energy recovery facilities from waste was recently withdrawn, delaying critical projects that local authorities have long awaited. Experts warn that halting progress risks worsening environmental and public health impacts. Professor Adi Wolfson emphasized the necessity of establishing a waste authority that includes local governments but cautioned against stopping current initiatives. Professor Ofira Ayalon criticized the ministry's failure to reduce landfill rates and stressed that polluters should finance waste management through levies, not property taxes. She also highlighted the opaque and politically influenced management of the Cleanliness Fund.

With elections approaching and no resolution in sight, the waste sector faces a deepening crisis, as professional staff within the Environmental Protection Ministry block new projects, fearing premature political decisions. The ministry declined to comment on the ongoing disputes.