Unfortunately, I remember just 10-15 years back when it wasn’t uncommon at all for an average Israeli to finish a can of Coke and just thow the can on the street without a second thought!
Now right outside most peoples homes, including my own, we have a neighborhood bottle recycling bin that is constantly being put to good use.
So now, Israel is not only right up there with the world leaders in solar energy, water conservation but also recycling as well!
Kol hakavod to Israel, what a welcome change.
Now, if only we could get this terrible plastic bag problem under control!!
“To mark Earth Day 2010 today, Beverage Containers Collection Corporation Ltd. this week collected the three billionth bottle since the Bottle and Can Deposit Law 5759-1999 came into effect nine years ago. The volume of the beverage containers collected is equal to eight Azrieli Round Towers.”
“The cans collected, with a total weight of 26,000 tons, were sent to a steel mill for recycling into new raw material, which was used in the construction of 1,605 secure rooms, thousands of apartments, and miles of fences.”
“2009 figures indicate that Israel has quickly boosted recycling rates to levels of the US and Europe. Israel recycled 69.2% of deposit beverage containers in 2009, 3 percentage points more than in 2008.”
Quote source:Â Globes.co.il -Â Mira Awwad 22 Apr 10