Between Environment and Demography: The Waste Crisis and the Loss of Open Spaces

This chapter in the State of the Nation Report focuses on two major environmental issues: the waste crisis and tree felling for construction and development purposes. Taub Center researchers, Dr. Maya Sadeh and Or Siman-Tov, present alarming data on the quantities of solid waste sent to landfills each year, the phenomenon of illegal waste burning, and the widespread felling of trees to make way for new residential neighborhoods and urban renewal projects. The researchers outline several steps that can be taken to help Israeli residents enjoy a better quality of life and optimal health.

The research was conducted as part of the Taub Center Research and Policy Initiative for Environment and Health, which is generously supported by Yad Hanadiv.

Around 13,000 waste fires occur annually in Israel, causing severe air pollution and contaminating soil and water sources. Most of them are in the periphery and Judea and Samaria

Each year, approximately 13,000 waste fires are reported to Israel’s firefighting services — an average of nearly 40 fires per day. The amount of waste burned annually is estimated at about 250,000 tons. The researchers analyzed fire data from 2012–2024 and found a clear seasonal pattern: the number of fires decreases in the winter months, while in the spring (around Passover) — and to a significant extent in the fall — they increase. Geographically, most waste fires occur in periphery areas, primarily in the northern and southern districts.

Another significant source of pollution from waste burning is transboundary air pollution originating from waste fires in Judea and Samaria. In 2022, an estimated 180,000 tons of waste were burned in these areas, and that same year, hundreds of illegal fires of electrical and electronic waste occurred in the South Hebron region, causing cross-border pollution. These fires generate heavy air pollution that harms residents living in Judea and Samaria and in areas adjacent to the Green Line. The researchers note that in the local authorities of Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut, Harish, and Shoham, numerous reports have been received regarding odors from smoke and health symptoms resulting from waste fires.

During waste burning, toxic gases are released into the air, posing serious health hazards. These include carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and dioxins — highly toxic chemical substances classified as top-tier carcinogens. Additionally, the combustion of plastic or electronic materials releases heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and mercury, all of which have widespread effects on the heart and nervous system.

The study presents incidence and mortality rates for the 15 most common types of cancer in children and adults in Israel and Southern European countries. The data indicate that while cancer incidence rates are generally similar, and in many cases even lower in Israel, the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is higher in Israel than in the comparison countries, in both adults and children. According to the researchers, given the suspected link between exposure to pollution from waste burning and cancer, there is concern that the increasing volume of waste fires in the past decade could lead to a rise in the incidence of various types of cancer in the future.

The environmental damage caused by waste fires is not limited to air pollution. According to the researchers, the toxic substances released during combustion settle into the soil, altering its chemical composition — a phenomenon that reduces soil fertility, damages agricultural yields, disrupts the local ecosystem, and harms vegetation and wildlife habitats. Additionally, these toxic substances are washed away by rain, seeping into groundwater and streams, thereby contaminating water sources. The researchers emphasize that soil and water pollution also impact public health through the agricultural produce we consume and the water we drink.

Waste management: Israel lags significantly behind other high-income countries and relies on the least recommended method — landfilling

Israel has particularly high per capita waste generation rates. In 2020, the average amount of waste per capita in Israel was 691 kg per year, compared to an average of 534 kg per capita in OECD countries. Currently, most waste produced in Israel — about 80% — is sent to landfills, compared to an OECD average of about 40%.

One of the negative consequences of waste landfilling is the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas whose levels in Israel are steadily rising, primarily due to population growth and the increasing volume of waste production. Methane is responsible for approximately 20% of global temperature rise and also has indirect health effects, as it contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone — an air pollutant that causes respiratory diseases and is also linked to cardiovascular events and heart disease.

Taub Center researchers analyzed the relationship between carbon dioxide and methane emissions and population growth. They found that while Israel has had some success in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, methane emissions remain unaddressed and continue to rise alongside population growth.

Between 2021 and 2023, approximately 242,000 trees were felled with permits, most for the construction of new neighborhoods and the rest as part of urban renewal projects

Trees play a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, moderating temperatures, alleviating heat stress, and improving air quality. They also have a positive impact on human health, as demonstrated by numerous studies. Nevertheless, Israel is among the leading OECD countries in the reduction of open spaces for construction and infrastructure development. Additionally, in urban renewal projects, mature trees in existing neighborhoods are felled without providing adequate alternatives.

In Israel, a permit from the Forestry Officer is required to cut down a tree. The majority of tree removal requests submitted to the authorities are for construction and infrastructure development. Between 2021 and 2023, permits were granted for the felling of approximately 242,000 trees, about 74% of them for these purposes. The remaining permits were issued for safety hazard removal or due to tree death or disease.

The researchers analyzed the felling permits issued during these years according to permit size and found that about 35% of the trees were felled under large-scale permits — 1,000 trees or more — while about 21% were felled under permits for 1–9 trees. In most cases, large-scale permits are granted for the construction of new neighborhoods, alongside thousands of annual permits for the removal of a single tree or a small number of trees in urban areas.

The researchers note that although the official policy of the Planning Administration is to prioritize densification of existing urban spaces over the construction of low-density new neighborhoods — thereby preserving open spaces and agricultural land — this is rarely implemented in practice. Instead, the trend of reducing open spaces in favor of new residential construction continues.

The researchers outline several recommendations for addressing the environmental challenges highlighted in the study:

• Reducing landfill rates and recovering energy from waste: Sustainable solutions for waste treatment are needed, such as increasing recycling and composting volumes and investing in the establishment of waste-to-energy facilities. At the same time, efforts should be made to reduce the amount of waste generated and to minimize the quantities sent to landfills.
• Regulation, supervision, and enforcement: Implementing effective enforcement mechanisms, especially in areas prone to waste burning and environmental crime.
• Research: Investing in studies that provide data on the health costs of Israel’s waste crisis.
• Tree felling: Developing a structured policy for the protection of mature trees, both in urban areas and in open spaces. In parallel, it is essential to uphold existing policies that promote urban densification and limit the construction of new neighborhoods at the expense of open spaces.