Joint Service Council for Solid Waste Management – B.lahem مجلس الخدمات المشترك لادارة النفايات الصلبة – بيت لحم
Solid waste management in Bethlehem governorate, funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Arab Monetary Fund, held several awareness workshops entitled “Towards a clean and beautiful environment in Bethlehem governorate”.
Awareness workshops have been held in the past weeks on the subject of solid waste targeting various segments of the local community in Bethlehem governorate, including cleaners, representatives of women’s associations, members of municipalities and local and village councils in Bethlehem governorate, as well as cultural and tourism institutions and youth councils in municipalities. Directorate of police and tourist police in the province.
The latest workshops were conducted by the Services Council and the Bethlehem Development Foundation today at the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which targeted clergy, traders and factory owners, in addition to the Contractors Union and the Engineers Association in Bethlehem.
Dr. Samir Hazboun, Director General of the Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the attendance and praised the importance of the services council and its active role to keep the governorate clean. Bethlehem to the history of the institution and the goal of its establishment, which is to make the city of Bethlehem holy and religious importance comparable to the religious cities in the world. He talked about the most important projects related to solid waste management, which the two institutions will implement in the future in Bethlehem governorate, which will complete the process of the World Bank project, which is the establishment of a sanitary landfill in Minya area, which serves the governorates of Bethlehem and Hebron.
Eng. Iyad Abu Rudeineh, Executive Director of the Joint Services Council, welcomed all attendees and thanked the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for hosting them, stressing the importance of the existence of the Joint Services Council as a unified body for all municipalities. He also stressed the importance of the historic and tourist city of Bethlehem and that it is the focus of attention of all visitors to Palestine throughout the year.
He also pointed out that the project is the first project to support Bethlehem and waste management, praising its importance to the province and the difference that will make in the service of waste when it starts work.
Abu Rudeineh also talked about the difficulties faced by municipalities in the service of waste, especially with regard to the subject of tax collection and it is one of the most difficult tasks carried out by municipalities in the province. He also explained that the responsibility for cleanliness and preservation lies with all individuals and is not limited to the Council of services or municipalities and the success of the project needs to combine all efforts.
Eng. Mazen Karam, Executive Director of Bethlehem Development Corporation, thanked the Arab Monetary Fund under the management of the Islamic Development Bank as the director of the Al-Aqsa Fund financed the project, and stressed the phrase “cleanness of faith” and focused on the importance of cleaning our streets and public places as we care about the cleanliness of our homes. Participation of all municipalities within the Joint Services Council.
Eng. Mohammed Al-Saadi, representative of Arabtec Jardana Company, the executing company of the project and the executive director of Zahrat Al-Finjan landfill, gave a detailed presentation about the project, explaining its objectives which are in the work of a structural plan for solid waste management, in addition to developing sustainable solutions to enhance and improve solid waste management. He also gave an awareness lecture on the disposal of solid waste and the risks resulting from the wrong disposal, especially the incineration process and the dangers of some waste such as medical waste in addition to encourage the process of waste sorting and recycling. Here, as the economic side, which can return to the state and the citizen through the re-use of solid and organic waste.
At the end of the workshop was opened for discussion and representatives of the institutions talked about some experiences in the process of awareness of the subject of waste disposal and come up with some recommendations were the most important:
• The law is a key motivation for the success of this project, the law is a deterrent to the subject of waste disposal in the streets and public places, and the process of burning waste.
• Stimulate the citizen’s behavior to maintain cleanliness by fining and giving immediate violations to people who are not interested in cleanliness and the environment with a focus on the role of the citizen in maintaining cleanliness of the province and not just to take responsibility on the municipalities and the Joint Services Council.
• Awareness workshops should include all segments of society, especially schools and universities.
• Media participation in this project is essential.
• Find places dedicated to the disposal of construction waste to serve the province
• The role of religious institutions in raising awareness through churches and mosques
