Nation urged to lower holiday consumption and waste

Households often generate up to 50 percent more waste than usual during Passover.

By SHARON UDASIN
trash collection 521 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
trash collection 521
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
The Environmental Protection Ministry is urging Israelis to go green for Hol Hamoed, the intermediate days of Passover.
Because households often generate up to 50 percent more waste than usual during Passover, the ministry called on the public to consume smarter and purchase only products they will use.
During Passover, the amount of waste produced rises by anywhere from 15% to 50%, depending on the individual, according to the ministry.
While the average Israeli normally generates about 1.7 kilograms of trash per day, during Passover this number rises to about 2.2 kg., the ministry said.
Overall, the production of waste varies according to income, with those in higher socioeconomic brackets normally producing about 1.9 kg. of trash per day and those with lower incomes producing about 1.1 kg. per day – a difference of 72%, the ministry noted.
Passover 5772: Click for JPost special features
Passover 5772: Click for JPost special features
The Hiriya waste transfer station reported that during the week before the holiday began, the site saw an increase of 10% in incoming waste, while during Passover itself the rise is expected to grow to between 30% and 50%, according to ministry data.
The ministry has therefore requested that the public adopt a “green consumption” attitude and arrive at supermarkets with prepared shopping lists, buying only necessary products. In addition, residents should remember to continue recycling their plastic bottles and to bring glass bottles and cans to deposit sites, the ministry said.