About the Ministry of Environmental Protection

The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MoEP) works to protect the environment and public health by promoting laws, regulations, and standards, while also supervising their implementation and enforcement. MoEP also operates under binding international conventions. Its areas of responsibility include air quality, waste management, supervision of hazardous materials, protection of natural resources and the marine environment, and more. Public participation in protecting the environment takes the form of informational campaigns, education, publication of detailed professional information, and support for measures taken by municipalities, institutions and civil society organizations involved in promoting environmental protection.

The MoEP operates on three levels: At the national level, the ministry is responsible for formulating integrated and comprehensive national policy and for developing strategies, standards, and priorities for environmental protection. At the district level, it operates through geographical districts that are responsible for the implementation of national environmental policies, as adapted to the unique environmental characteristics and needs of localities in the district. At the local level, the ministry supports more than 50 environmental units in towns, cities and municipal associations. The work done by these environmental units serves to connect the objectives of national environmental policy to day-to-day activities in the field at the local level.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection promotes waste prevention at the source and encourages the transition to a circular economy.

Compost site in Israel. Photo: Eyal Yaffe