Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection has applauded the success of the small Middle-Eastern nation’s first National Clean-up Day, with over 100,000 volunteers working together to clean up around 50 tonnes of waste from around Israel’s cities, open spaces and forests.
Held on the 29th of March, 2011, the event will be an annual event corresponding with the last Tuesday of the Hebrew month of Adar (which usually coincides with the month of March), to fit in with the traditional cleaning season in the lead-up to Passover.
Sixty thousand large garbage bags were distributed to participants around the country, as well as interactive waste bins that encourage recycling.
According to Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan, Clean-up Day shows everyone the importance of taking individual responsibility for cleaning up waste and taking care of the environment.
Erdan himself participated, along with many military personnel including Director General Att. Alona Shaeffer Karo, major industry representatives, a representative of the Bank of Israel and the German Ambassador to Israel, who all attended the main event along the coastline of Herzliya.
Around one thousand primary schools across the nation focused on learning about the environment, as well as participating in the clean-up effort. A special clean-up event was help along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, which was attended by over 1300 children. From the corporate sector, dozens of companies and organisations from all areas participated in local clean-ups.
Other areas with organised clean-up events include Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Eilat, Beer Sheva, Rishon Leziyon, Bat Yam and many more.
For more details, see:
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