The Ministry of Environmental Protection has transferred financial commitments to 13 authorities in the total amount of NIS 2.1 million, for the purchase of dishwashers in kindergartens and public information in the local authorities. The 13 authorities that joined the ministry’s funding this quarter: Gedera, Migdal Haemek, Zichron Yaacov, Bnei Aish, Mount Hebron Regional Council, Mate Asher Regional Council, Kfar Yona, Kaochav, Hevel Yavneh Regional Council, Ness Ziona, Springs Valley Regional Council, Valley Regional Council Jezreel and Rishon Lezion.
To date, the scope of assistance from the Ministry of Environmental Protection for this issue amounts to NIS 17.3 million for 125 local authorities. The requests of additional authorities are currently being examined by the ministry, and as long as the threshold conditions of the calling voice are found, they will also be approved and budgeted as soon as possible. The total budget approved under the support is up to NIS 45 million.
According to the ministry, “The cessation of the use of disposable utensils will soon begin in about 5,300 kindergartens, which constitute about 26% of the kindergartens in Israel. Children who are used to eating daily using five disposable utensils each, on average, will switch to reusable utensils and lead to savings Directly over 100 million disposable tool items on average, every year. “
Minister Zandberg: “Changing habits in kindergartens will have a positive effect on every home and home”
As part of the support, the Ministry of Environmental Protection is producing a budget mechanism that will allow the authorities, who will have a budget for it, to purchase higher-quality reusable utensils than planned in advance, to purchase serving spoons and even bowls in the center of the table. In addition, the move is expected to promote a market of catering providers and service providers based on the use of reusable tools, thus increasing the supply and feasibility of additional entities to make a change and transition to this form of catering.
The Minister of Environmental Protection, Tamar Zandberg, said that the move to remove disposable utensils from kindergartens is part of a program led by her office “to detox from the use of disposable utensils and reduce plastic waste, and is added to our program “A place that both educates and operates in a sustainable manner. The introduction of dishwashers into kindergartens has health, environmental, economic and educational consequences, and it is expected to lead to a significant reduction in the use of disposable utensils in Israel. Changing habits in kindergartens will have a positive effect on every home.”