“Eretz Carmel” Waste Management in Carmel Coastal Region:
“Eretz Carmel” operation is the first and only collective project in Israel for voluntary organic waste separation by private households. Organic waste separation is not mandated anywhere – this important procedure remains an “exotic” act practiced among environmentally aware individuals.
Amiad Lapidot operates a central worm-composting plant that turns 120 tons organic waste separated voluntarily by residents of his Moshav of Kerem Maharal on the foothills of Mt. Carmel – every year. Hof Ha-Carmel Regional Council recognized the continuous reduction in MSW quantities – and provided the necessary infrastructure for expanding the project to 340 tons collected from 6 other villages. The operation is gradually shifting to using recycled biodiesel for all transportation activities, while 2008 targets include expansion to Zichron Yaacov and worm-composting of 500 tons organic waste.
The GHG emissions reduction project incorporates prevention of trucking waste to landfills and the resulting methane production, and replacing fossil based diesel with a recycled biofuel. Both components were already summarized in previous projects, and won’t be re-emphasized here. It is important though to point out that general MSW generated in the Carmel Coastal Region travels 250-km to the central landfill near Beer-Sheba in the Negev.
Emission reduction values for Eretz Carmel project are 1100 tons CO2eq per year based on the total amount of separated organic waste, transportation and alternative transportation date, and accepted figures for methane production at the relevant land-filling sites.
The additional benefits accompanying GHG reduction in “Eretz Carmel” include demonstrating the feasibility for source separation and local waste management to residents and visitors, and activating a regional council via a unique grassroots project.
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