Jerusalem lags behind other major cities in recycling sector.
While most Israelis tend to recycle their plastic bottles, only about half the population recycles paper and cardboard, a Central Bureau of Statistics survey revealed on Wednesday.
All in all, about 67 percent of Israelis recycle their plastic bottles, as opposed to the 52% who recycle paper and cardboard, according to the report. Far fewer people take their batteries, electrical products and medicine containers to designated recycling spots. In nearly all the recycling sectors surveyed, the city of Jerusalem fared particularly poorly.
The report, entitled "Data on Recycling Habits of Israelis," is part of the ongoing CBS 2014 Social Survey, which examines the living conditions of population members aged 20 and older and focuses this year in particular on a number of environmental issues.
Throughout 2014, the country\’s local authorities recycled a total of 900,000 tons of waste, constituting about 18% of the total garbage collected, the CBS survey said. Recycled materials mostly consisted of wood trimmings – 38% of all recycled materials – and inorganic products, at 19%.
Examining the data more closely, the report identified the highest rates of plastic bottle recycling in Netanya, Ashdod and Tel Aviv, where 84%, 83% and 82% of residents recycled their plastic bottles.
While the plastic bottle recycling rate in most major cities ranged from 69% to 76%, the rate in Jerusalem was much lower, at 48%, when including east Jerusalem residents. When just examining the behaviors of Jerusalem\’s Jewish population, the CBS found that 72% tend to recycle their bottles.