Israel
Waste management in Israel has undergone significant transformation in recent years, driven by regulatory reforms and sustainability initiatives. With 259 local authorities overseeing waste collection and disposal, the country faces challenges related to increasing waste generation and landfill dependency. The 2011 Packaging Law introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), making manufacturers and importers responsible for the recycling of packaging waste. Compliance is achieved through authorized Packaging Recovery Organizations (PROs), ensuring the funding of collection, sorting, and recycling systems. Specific recycling targets have been set for materials like plastic, glass, metal, paper, and wood, with a national goal of reducing landfill reliance. Strengthened enforcement and investment in circular economy solutions continue to shape Israel’s waste policy, aligning it with global environmental standards.
Legal basis
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The Israel Packaging Management Law of 2011 mandates that manufacturers and importers placing over 1 ton of packaging annually on the Israeli market are responsible for recycling their packaging waste in accordance with the law’s specified targets. The overarching goal is to minimize the environmental impact of packaging materials by reducing waste generation, preventing landfill disposal, and promoting recycling. loc.gov
Recycling Targets:
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General Targets:
- 2012: 40%
- 2013: 50%
- 2014: 55%
- 2015 and onwards: 60%
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Material-Specific Targets:
- Glass: 60%
- Paper and Cardboard: 60%
- Metal: 50%
- Plastic: 22.5%
- Wood: 15%
These targets are designed to ensure that a significant portion of packaging materials is recycled annually.
Additionally, manufacturers and importers are obligated to fully fund the separation, collection, sorting, and recycling systems implemented by local authorities in Israel. To comply with these obligations, they must engage with a company authorized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection to act as a Packaging Recovery Organization (PRO).
Facts and figures
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Data 2024
| Population | 9.7 mil. |
| No. of local authorities | 40 municipalities in the system 1.5 mil. inhabitants covered by system |
| No. of companies in system |
Israel comprises 259 local authorities, categorized as follows:
|
| Packaging introduced to the market |
451 kt (only reported to Tamir) |
| Recovered waste |
470 kt = 104% |
| Types of packaging | Household and Industrial packaging |
Packaging organisation/s in Israel:
