Israel: Garbage Container on the West Bank

by: Aya Yasin 

Abu Dis is located at 2 Km South East of the old city of Jerusalem, populated by over 15000 people and another 12000 students from Al-Quds University. Abu Dis suffers the two bitters: the separation wall completed in that area in 2005 makes the journey from Jerusalem to Abu Dis last more than 15 Km between complicated chains of illegal settlements. The other is the unsanitary landfill pollution imposed on the area in the late 70′s upon confiscation of agricultural land that belongs to Abu Dis residents. 

Only 4500 dunums of 28000 are left for the Indigenous people that is, 1\6^th of the original land.  The rest are divided between illegal settlements and closed military zones. 

Bedouin population of 60 families lived in the area for a very long time. Today they are located at a dangerous distance from the poisonous land fill.  While Bedouins traditionally are constantly moving in search of water and pasture, the separation wall has left them stuck in the valley facing the Dead Sea. They have no access to medical and educational services because all other directions are closed by a 9 meter high cement wall. 

The landfill lacks precautionary installations. Under the condition how it operates today poses an environmental hazard and danger to the lives around.  The landfill does not include HDPE (?) to protect the rich aquifer lying underneath it. No landfill gas collection (explosive greenhouse gas emission from landfill), no proper water drainage, no future rehabilitation plan, no separation of medical and radioactive wastes from hospitals. Up today it has collected over 7 million tons of mixed solid waste. The landfill absorbs solid waste from the entire Jerusalem district equal to 1300 ton daily. Subsequently, also absorbs waste from neighboring Palestinian populated area. The landfill administration demands the Palestinians to pay extra taxes to overcome the landfill debt. 

Everybody agrees that closure of the land fill is the best solution.  However, no suitable alternative has been found yet. Meanwhile, research center of the Hebrew university issued a study proving the existence of hazardous industrial chemicals and radioactive materials that will remain for at least 30 years. Another alarming study indicates the increasing number of cancer cases in the adjacent neighborhoods. 

The phenomenon of dumping solid waste along the green line is alive, although the signs prohibit the act. Reinforcement is missing, and the territorial line between the Arab and Jewish neighborhoods (Tal El Foul, A-Ram, West Beit Hanina, Esaweya, Jabal Al Mukaber, Silwan) becomes a continuous long dumping ground.

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