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A tiring cleanup By Zafrir Rinat Tags: Israel News It's been more than a year since the law on tire recycling went into effect, and it was supposed to have solved one of Israel's worst environmental hazards. However, despite the success reported by the Environmental Protection Ministry, huge open spaces, especially in the south, are still overflowing with tire piles. Under the law, tire manufacturers and importers must collect at least half of all tires sold in Israel, shred them, and send them to landfills or to be recycled. This is the first law in Israel that makes manufacturers and importers directly responsible for the waste created by their product. The manufacturers and importers claim they are collecting nearly 60 percent - even more than currently required. However, operators of large waste and recycling sites say they are receiving too few tires to justify investing in the shredding and recycling operations required by law. Advertisement The Negev Ecology company is particularly prepared. The company, which operates the Dudaim waste site near Ofakim among other things, received money from the Environmental Protection Ministry to build a tire recycling plant. However, Dudaim is receiving very few tires, while nearly every empty lot and valley around Be'er Sheva is teeming with them. Same for the mobile home site where Ethiopian immigrants live on the outskirts of Be'er Sheva, and next to the city's Big Mall. Among other hazards, these tire piles are ideal breeding grounds for Asian tiger mosquitoes, which can transmit serious diseases. "Dudaim needs 1,500 tons of tires a month to maintain the recycling plant," says Motti Danan, one of Negev Ecology's owners. "We have been getting about 200 tons. The tires are currently being shredded and stored, until the plant is established." When the plant opens, the tires will be turned into various products, including playground surfacing. "You can see some of the tires were burnt in order to sell the iron, when the price was high," Danan notes. The Barkat waste disposal site, near Rosh Ha'ayin, has similar troubles. Manager Yigdal Akh says they can't justify investing in recycling equipment or leasing a shredding apparatus. "I know tires are still being dumped illegally, and some of them are finding their way over the Green Line. The Environmental Protection Ministry must expand its enforcement," he says. Waste site managers say enforcement on tire shops must be increased. The Environmental Protection Ministry says it has been inspecting tire shops and issuing warnings. Yoav Goel of the Environmental Protection Ministry waste department says that despite the implementation problems, collection is fairly extensive. He is convinced that in two years, when the recycling target reaches 85 percent, no more tires will be seen in open fields. Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra says the law has been successful so far, based on the collection rates reported. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Trailblazer Haula Abu-Bakar named first Arab female professor in Israel. Hills of hostility A stranger coming to Hebron Saturday would be confused.

Read & React Defense establishment paper: Golan for Syria peace, plan for Iran strike Responses: 107 Candidate for U.S. security adviser wants NATO force in the West Bank Responses: 133 Gideon Levy: America elects Obama, Israel elects its Bush Responses: 57 Report: Ya'alon said Israel must 'consider killing Ahmadinejad' Responses: 28 More Headlines 01:29 Report: Gaza militants agree to cease rocket fire if Israel opens crossings 01:27 Aide: Ex-IDF chief's Ahmadinejad remarks taken out of context 23:04 Olmert wants to generate 'final tailwind' on Syria, says aide 00:34 Israel jails neo-Nazi gang members for up to seven years 18:15 Barak: Israel is working day and night to bring Shalit home 02:00 U.K. urges Gulf states to press Iran over nuclear program 18:13 Israel appoints first Arab female professor in country's history 02:08 Poll: 70% of Israeli Arab women think slaps are not domestic abuse 22:56 Barak: Who will save the economy, Netanyahu? He took your pensions 20:44 Fearing attack, Iran militia holds massive defense drill 00:35 VIDEO / Shas Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Secular teachers are 'asses' 22:41 Egyptian guards shoot and kill Sudanese migrant at Israel border 21:45 State given another year to scrap 'discriminatory' education budget system 14:56 Poverty at 10-year low, but nearly 1 in 4 Israelis still poor 22:21 PLO unanimously elects Abbas president of future Palestinian state Previous Editions Select Day 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov

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