In recent days, smoke has increased as a result of waste incineration as dozens of inquiries and complaints were received from communities in Samaria, Binyamin, and the Jordan Valley.
The complaints were channeled to the Samaria Urban Environment Association, which operates in fifteen local authorities in Binyamin, the Jordan Valley, and Samaria.
The Association said that just last week there were debris fires that continued during the night and day in Qalqiliya near Tzufim, on the site east of Oranit, Bidia, Sinirya, and next to Thulat, choking Ma'aleh Shomron, Karnei Shomron, Barkan, and the rest of the region in noxious fumes.
Burning debris at the Deir Balut and Um Hamam sites have severely plagued Rosh Ha'ayin. There were a number of garbage fires in Bnei Hassan. In the Binyamin area, most of the fires, which appeared to have been ignited in coordination with other areas, were in Deir Qadis, Kibiya, and Deir Amar, smoking out Modi'in Illit, Nili, and Na'ale. At the same time, manure was burnt east of Nahaliel and Kerem Re'em.
Binyamin Council Deputy Mayor and Urban Environment Association Chairman Raphael Engel acknowledged the rapid response and vigorous activity of the Civil Administration Environment Unit head and his team who went out and dealt with all the incineration sites. Treatment included bringing large quantities of dirt and covering the burning sites.
The Association's chief executive, Itche Meir, said "residents should continue to contact and complain about any incineration at both the Environmental Center (Environment Ministry) and the Civil Administration hotline as well as letting us know. The vigorous activity in all cases by the Civil Administration teams proves that there is an attentive ear, but it's clear that without a thorough solution for organized and shared waste treatment together with the Israeli waste treatment, the hazardous phenomenon will not cease and the air in our area will continue to be contaminated by dioxins and other contaminant particles."