Just before disbanding, Knesset passes long-awaited construction waste law

The Knesset on Thursday passed a long-awaited bill to curb the illegal dumping of construction debris in Israel’s countryside.

By strengthening regulation, supervision and enforcement of waste disposal, the legislation seeks to minimize environmental damage and transform construction waste into a resource for reuse.

However, how the law’s implementation will be funded remains unclear, as the measure was not included in the 2026 state budget.

Some 7.5 million tons of construction waste — including concrete, asphalt, tiles and glass — are generated in Israel annually. Of this, nearly one million tons are illegally dumped in open spaces by haulers intent on avoiding the costs of transporting materials to distant sorting and landfill facilities.

This practice causes environmental damage, as waste leaches into soil and groundwater, attracts pests and creates hazardous conditions when burned.

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Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman hailed the law as a “true revolution” that will finally place the waste economy under a single regulatory umbrella.

The law, scheduled to take effect in 18 months, seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for the entire waste lifecycle, from creation at the building site through documentation, transport and final processing.

All participants in the construction sector, including waste producers and haulers, will have to be registered and licensed.

To ensure waste is not dumped en route, payments to haulage companies will be processed through a government clearinghouse. Funds will be released only once the waste has been confirmed to have reached an authorized sorting, landfill, or recycling site.

The law mandates the use of GPS and other digital tools to track transport trucks to ensure they reach regulated facilities before haulers are paid.

Instructions will be issued to promote the separation of waste at construction sites to encourage higher recycling rates. Between 70 percent and 90% of building waste currently arriving at authorized sorting sites is successfully earmarked for reuse, according to the Environmental Protection Ministry.

For the first time, local authorities will be authorized to collect construction waste from small producers for a fee, and their enforcement capabilities will be expanded.

Fines are mentioned in the law, but without specifying amounts.

The law, however, does not apply to the West Bank, whose jurisdiction falls under the Israeli Civil Administration, and building waste dumping is extensive.

The issue of illegal dumping and the subsequent illicit burning of waste became a flashpoint late last year following intense protests from Israelis living near the Green Line. Citizens reported respiratory issues and severe air pollution caused by the burning of waste.

Environmental groups have welcomed the law as a historic achievement.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel noted that the law addresses a “national plague” that has damaged public health and natural landscapes for two decades.

The advocacy group Citizens for Clean Air highlighted the law’s potential to reduce waste fires, which it said are responsible for roughly 75% of carcinogenic air emissions in the country, provided that the government ensures rigorous implementation.