Table 4 Current Israeli EPR Laws addressing plastic pollution

Deposit Law on Beverage Containers (1999):

This Law (also known as ‘The Bottle Bill’) requires a refundable deposit to be paid on beverage containers sold in Israel, thereby promoting reuse and recycling of beverage containers, and reduction of litter in public spaces and of waste in landfills. It regulates the recycling of beverage cans and bottles made of glass, metal, and plastic with volumes ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 L. Consumers pay a deposit fee upon purchase, which is refunded upon returning empty containers. The funds collected through the law go to the MoEP Cleanliness Fund and are used to promote beverage container recycling and enforcement of environmental legislation [171]

The "Single-Use Plastic Bags Reduction Law" (2016):

This law aims to reduce the use of SUP bags, thereby reducing the amount of waste generated and its negative environmental impact. The law requires supermarkets (at the check-out counter) to charge a fee for SUP bags. The law promotes alternatives to SUP and encourages recycling [172]

Packaging Law (2011)

The Packaging Law places responsibility for the collection and recycling of a product's packaging waste directly upon that product's manufacturers and importers. The Law’s main goal is reduction of the negative environmental impact of consumer product packaging and prevent its landfilling, by encouraging recycling of plastic packaging of food, personal care and household cleaning products, as well as nylon bags, milk and juice cartons and empty tins of canned food. Orange plastic trash collection bins are placed in each municipal neighborhood by the municipality, which also pays for transport of the bins to a central processing center. It focuses on minimizing packaging waste generation, preventing its accumulation, and promoting packaging reuse [173]

Tires Disposal and Recycling Law (2007):

This Law regulates the disposal and recycling of tires to protect the environment and prevent harm caused by discard of tires in unregulated sites, uncontrolled burning and landfill accumulation. This law places the responsibility for tire recycling on tire producers and importers. Tire producers and importers in Israel are responsible for collecting used tires and either recycling them or finding other ways to reuse them [174]