Abstract:
Municipal services in the Palestinian Authority (PA) areas, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip
(WBGS), are facing serious difficulties that have been intensified following the outbreak of the Palestinian
uprising in late September 2000. The solid waste management services, being the most essential services
provided by the municipalities and village councils, are mostly affected by the ongoing harsh situation
and hence proper solutions that take into account the actual amount of generated municipal solid waste
and its composition is a pre-requisite for planning proper treatment. Hence, a study was carried out to
identify the actual status of solid waste in eight West Bank districts. A social survey was also conducted
to collect information concerning the level of public awareness among communities surveyed to the perception
of solid waste recycling and reuse. The results of the survey conducted in 2001–2002 were later
reviewed during July–October 2008 to assess if the trend of domestic solid waste generation had changed.
Based on the survey and post-assessment, it is found that political and economic conditions have
both significantly impacted the trend of generated municipal solid waste and since no improvements
in either condition are forthcoming, it is concluded that survey results could be used in a planning study.
A possible handling of the generated wastes may entail transferring the recyclable waste to Israeli recycling
industries, and in constructing three composting plants in different accessible locations in the West
Bank.
