Illegal Landfill Sites

Have you ever renovated your house or moved to a recently built new building? Did you ever stop to think about where all the building debris goes and what happens to it? 

The illegal burial of construction waste is a widespread phenomenon with direct ramifications on the state of environmental health in Israel and the world. This unfortunate phenomenon occurs right under our very noses every day in every part of the country. 

Presently, numerous illegal construction waste landfill sites all over the country work hand in hand with several construction contractors, with only one goal: to illegally bury construction debris, the remains of construction, or renovation. This illegal industry has high cash flow, ranging from construction contractors to transport trucks and landfill sites, and thus makes millions of shekels per year. They recognized that the illegal dumping of construction waste could be very profitable and therefore attempt to preserve the industry in every way possible. The problem is that this source of income can cause severe damage to human life and the environment.

When illegal landfill sites operate criminally and do not meet the legal protocols for landfills, they cause serious harm to the surrounding area and pollute the soil, air, and wildlife. Deeply buried underground construction debris slowly dissolves and discharges chemicals and oils straight into the nearby groundwater or streams. Admittedly, even regulated and legal landfill sites cause damage to the environment but regulated landfilling helps reduce the waste leakage into the ground and groundwater. Moreover, over time, construction waste tends to release toxic and carcinogenic gases. These cause external fires and air pollution. Furthermore, these criminal activities severely harm the animals whose habitat is in the site area.

We at the ‘Green Israel Forum’ expose and document the illegal landfill sites activities. With the help of our field researchers, we record the construction waste route from the scattered construction sites until it reaches the criminal landfill sites. Once there, without a moment of hesitation, criminal workers bury the waste deep underground. To date, we have managed to shut down dozens of illegal construction waste landfill sites, and we strive not only to expose this criminal and life-threatening phenomenon but mainly to bring it to an end.