INSIDE THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT

INSIDE THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Personal Decree to Nesher

As part of the Ministry of the Environment's effort to improve air quality in the Haifa area, personal decrees for the abatement of air pollution were issued to several Haifa plants requiring, inter alia, requirements to use low-sulfur oil. Within the framework of this policy, an amendment to an existing personal decree to Nesher Cement Company was signed by Minister of the Environment Yossi Sarid in mid-October. Nesher, a cement producer, is the third largest contributor to sulfur dioxide emissions in Haifa.

In addition to new requirements on monitoring, prevention of dust dispersion and installation of devices for continuous measurement of sulfur concentrations in the stacks, the major addition regards sulfur dioxide emissions. The amended decree restricts the percentage of sulfur in the fuel to 2.5% for six months. During the spring (March-July) and autumn (September-December), the plant will be required to burn low-sulfur fuel with a maximal sulfur content of 1%.

Recycling Park Planned for Arad

The Eastern-Negev Environmental Unit (responsible for environmental quality in Arad, Dimona and the local councils of Arava Tichona and Tamar) plans to initiate the establishment of a recycling park, at a cost of NIS 2 million, including a recreational park for children, a recycling exhibition and an organic garden exhibiting the use of solar energy and purified effluent. A steering committee, composed of representatives of the Ministry of the Environment and local government, will help guide the project which is intended to increase public awareness of environmental protection, in general, and recycling, in particular.

Toxic Sludge Removed from Ben Gurion Airport

Some 2,000 tons of hazardous sludge, which had accumulated at Ben Gurion Airport as a result of industrial activities by Israel Aircraft Industries and El Al, were removed to the Ramat Hovav hazardous waste site in October. The sludge contained high concentrations of heavy metals, including cadmium, bromide, nickel, lead, zinc and organic material.

The removal was initiated by the Environment Ministry which demanded removal of the sludge before the winter's rains could wash it into the soil. The sludge had been spread on an area above the Ayalon River drainage basin and the coastal aquifer presenting a threat to groundwater, soil and agricultural produce. The high costs of removal, more than $300 a tons, stopped a similar procedure last year after approximately 1,200 tons had been removed.

Plastic Recycling Survey

The Plastic Manufacturers Association, in coordination with the Ministry of the Environment, will conduct a survey among its 200 members to identify possibilities for plastic waste recycling. The survey will discover and classify existing plastic waste, identify recyclable materials and industrial plants capable of recycling, and find new uses for recycled plastic material.

In a related development, all plastic packaging and wrapping material will be marked with the proper identification code for recyclable materials as of next year.

Plan to Cope With Hazardous Material Mishaps

The cabinet has approved a decision to establish a national system for handling incidents involving hazardous materials. The plan, submitted by the interministerial committee on hazardous materials, is based on a report by Brig-Gen.(res) Aharon Vardi. The report was commissioned by Environment Minister Sarid last January.

According to the government decision, a national system for dealing with accidents involving hazardous substances will be set up, which will define the realms of activity and authority of the different bodies. Previously, there was no legislation to guide the handling hazardous substances and no authority responsible for its implementation.

Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the subject, an interministerial expert team was set up to consolidate the principles of organization and operation of all the bodies taking part in hazardous substances events. The team, comprised of representatives from the police, Home Front Command, fire and rescue services, Magen David Adom and several government ministries including the Ministry of the Environment, is expected to present its plan in December.

Broadly speaking, the Home Front Command will be responsible for the treatment of incidents involving hazardous materials during emergency or wartime periods; the fire and emergency services will deal with the initial activities at the site of an accident until the arrival of Ministry of the Environment personnel who will be responsible for detection, monitoring, risk assessment and the transfer of hazardous waste to the Ramat Hovav site.