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Update from Israel, November 2003Update from IsraelNovember 2003 The Deposit Law on Beverage Containers ("the Deposit Law"), now in force for two years, is proving to be an extremely effective agent for changing how commerce and consumers relate to the disposal of plastic beverage bottles - and cans. In its first twelve months of operation, over 15,000 tons of containers (110 million units) were sent for recycling instead of burial in landfills. Despite the foot-dragging of the corporation set up by the Manufacturers' Association to handle the collection and recycling of containers, and the reluctance of many small retailers to comply with the law, the public has welcomed the law. Needless to say, it has also generated a host of small-time entrepreneurs who collect cans and bottles from garbage cans and the street. An attempt by the Grocers' Association to be excused from their obligations under the law was opposed by us in court, and their petition was turned down. Our commitment to the Deposit Bill - and to its rigorous implementation - continues. We have worked closely with stakeholders and Knesset members to successfully counter a threatened proposal to cancel the law, and we have worked with the Environment Ministry in drawing up amendments that will include "family" (1.5 liter bottles), a provision that was deleted from the original proposal (as Debbi Rubin Fields mentions) despite strong protestations by IUED and our partners in the Deposit Forum. We have also met with diverse stakeholders -the recycling corporation, leading retail chains, and the major plastic recycling agency, as well as the Environment Ministry - to prepare for what promises to be a tough lobbying period this fall. We have also persuaded the Israel Consumers Association to abandon their opposition to the law (mainly based on the sort of frustrations that consumers have encountered, as mentioned by Debbi) and to join forces with us in advancing amendments to the Deposit Law. Our shared goal is now to encourage and reward consumer participation in the recycling process by making the return of containers - and the refunding of deposits - as accessible and burden-free as possible. Fran Ran
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| © 2005 City & County of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services. | |||||||||||||||
