Barbara Hendricks and Amir Peretz tour the international recycling company ALBA
The focus of Israeli Environment Minister Amir Peretz's trip to Berlin today is on information about Germany's system of life-cycle management. Together with Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks, Peretz toured a sorting facility for lightweight packaging at the international recycling company ALBA. Hendricks informed the Israeli delegation about Germany's policies on life-cycle management, which are seen as exemplary around the world. Cooperation between Germany and Israel on environmental policy is traditionally close and characterised by trust.
Federal Environment Minister Hendricks said that the Federal Government supports the development of environmentally sound and resource-efficient waste management systems internationally. She welcomed the fact-finding visit of her Israeli counterpart as a positive sign that these environmental policy goals are increasingly being pursued around the world. "The expected growth in the global population and attendant demand for resources confront us with the challenge of using the available raw materials more prudently. Much of what we initially define as waste can be recycled and reused as high-quality products. Already today, one in seven tonnes of raw materials used in Germany comes from secondary raw materials. Modern, efficient life-cycle management technologies are thus crucial to the EU and Germany."
In recent years, Israel has made a number of efforts to increase recycling rates and reduce landfill waste. The focus of the visit was thus on an exchange of ideas on the organisation, financing and policy frameworks necessary for a modern life-cycle management system. In addition to ALBA's lightweight packaging sorting facility, the Israeli delegation also visited the supply and disposal centre at Potsdamer Platz (VEZ) and a mechanical-physical stabilisation plant in the Reinickendorf district.