Minister Gilad Ardan visited Raanana on Tuesday to observe Raanana’s environmental protection activity and to promote other projects in this field

Mayor Nahum Hofree announced that Raanana is delighted to be one of the first cities in Israel to initiate a citywide municipal project to separate garbage at source (at the residents’ homes), which will be a step up in the city’s extensive recycling activity.  The total cost of this project at this stage is approximately NIS 12 million, of which NIS 7.7 million will be funded by the Environmental Protection Ministry.  Hofree also added that he is confident that Raanana residents will cooperate with this program and the intention is that within a year to a year and a half, garbage will be separated at all of Raanana’s homes and businesses.

The project was launched during Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Arden’s visit to Raanana on Tuesday (6.7.2010).  Minister Ardan toured the city to observe the local authority’s activity in the fields of sustainability and environmental protection and to promote other future projects.  In an official meeting at the start of his visit Ardan said:  “I wish to laud Raanana’s extensive environmental activity.  When we identify local leadership that is willing to lead in this field, we will do everything in our power to help and to allocate resources.”

About Minister Ardan’s Visit
The minister’s visit began at an official meeting at Yad LaBanim with Mayor Nahum Hofree, his deputy mayors, city council members, the City Manager, the director of the Municipal Substantiality Administration, employees of the regional environmental protection department and senior municipal employees.  Minister Ardan was accompanied by an extensive team of senior ministry officials, including Director of the Environmental Protection Ministry, Yossi Inbar; the Ministry’s head of the waste department; and Regional Manager Gidi Mazor and his assistant Eitan Aram and other senior officials.

Mayor Nahum Hofree presented the city’s extensive activity as a sustainable city, which protects the environment and the quality of life of its residents and emphasized that it all begins with education.  Hofree gave examples of the many environmental projects executed at the schools and preschools, including recycling, ecological gardens, collecting rain water, etc.  Hofree noted that Raanana was the first city in Israel to adopt the green construction standard, which is binding for any new construction in the city.  In addition, he described the municipal plans for energy efficiency and mentioned that this summer, as part of the renovations at the city’s schools, thousands of bulbs and hundreds of air conditioning units will be replaced with new more energy efficient ones, as part of the city’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emission.

Minister Ardan emphasized that the subject of environmental protection has become an existential threat, because our modern consumption culture has brought about an accelerated rate of use of natural resources.  He added that if we continue at this pace, we will found ourselves 10-15 years down the road, in a situation in which the planet will no longer be able to meet the demands.  Moreover, Ardan added that, currently, there is a harmonious relationship between environmental development and economic development, because steps taken to protect the environment also bring about a savings in costs, such as green construction that contributes to a significant savings in water and electrical consumption.

The minister and his entourage were accompanied by the mayor, City Manager Avi Laufer and the Director of the Sustainability Administration, Perry Nativ at the Raanana Park to visit the Supplementary Education Division’s green summer camps.  The minister watched the children create artwork from recycled materials, learn about animals, etc.  From there, the minister continued the tour on a electric all terrain vehicle with Mayor Hofree and from there, he continued to the Raanana Forest where Minister Ardan planted a tree.

The minister left the following message in the guest book:  “To Raanana-the Greenest City in Israel.  I was very much impressed with the scope of the environmental activity implemented by the city’s management and residents.  There is no doubt that your great efforts reflect your profound understanding of the importance of this issue to the welfare of the State of Israel, its future and naturally, the quality of life of the city’s residents.  Environmental protection in the city of Raanana serves as an example for other Israeli cities and it will continue to be one of Israel’s best cities, where it is both fun and healthy to live.”

The visit was ended at the opening of the new monitoring station in Raanana – which measures the city’s air quality.

Process of Separating Garbage At Source (in the residents’ homes)
As part of the Raanana Municipality’s commitments as a sustainable city, its master plan for garbage was recently completed, as was announced during the minister’s visit.  The master plan deals with the separation of garbage into three different categories – wet garbage, dry garbage and paper.  Separating the garbage will allow the wet garbage to be turned into a resource, that will serve as compost for agriculture or to produce gas, thereby reducing pollution of the ground and the water sources and  reducing greenhouse gas emission.

In the coming months, the municipality will begin implementing the separation at source program at the residents’ homes.  In the first stage, a citywide survey will be conducted to determine the existing infrastructure and needs for additional equipment such as suitable containers and preparations to implement the separation.  Starting at the end of the year or in January 2011, the separation at source method will begin in the first neighborhood and will include 3,000 homes.  The process will be explained and demonstrated by staff members who will go house to house, to instruct residents and provide them with the necessary information on how to separate garbage in the proper manner.

In the photo:  Minister Ardan planting a tree in the Raanana Forest.
Minister Ardan and Mayor Nahum Hofree.  Photographer:  Sharon Bokov.