600 Containers, One Goal: A Cleaner West Ramallah

On the 3rd of December, we proudly launched our solid waste management initiative with the handover of 600 household waste containers to villages in the West Ramallah Cluster. The opening ceremony, attended by Dr. Sami Hijjawi (Minister of Local Government), Michel Rentenaar (Head of Mission, Netherlands Representative Office in Palestine), and mayors from the eight local authorities of the West Ramallah, marks an important moment in our ongoing efforts to improve waste management in Palestine.

The initiative is a concrete response to the lack of adequate infrastructure for waste collection and disposal, which was one of the challenges identified in proper solid waste management in the West Ramallah. The sector of solid waste management in Palestine is marked by serious pollution issues due to large waste volumes, poor disposal practices, open dumps, limited recycling, and restricted revenue generation. Therefore, this initiative is a significant step towards addressing one of the environmental issues in the region – improper waste management, which has led to contamination. In the past, communal waste containers on the streets have been damaged due to ongoing settler attacks. These new household waste containers, which can be securely stored on private property, offer a more sustainable solution for waste collection. The 600 containers will benefit the cluster of villages in the western area of Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate: Shabtin, Shuqba, Qibya, Budrus, Kharbatha Bani Harith, Deir Qaddis, Ni’lin, and Al-Midya.

The waste management initiative is part of the wider Sustainable Development through improved Local Governance (SDLG) programme, which focuses in Palestine on the thematic priority of Security & Rule of Law in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Governments (MOLG). Over five years, the SDLG programme aims to promote legitimacy and stability in local communities by strengthening organizational capacity, empowering individuals and groups, and fostering an institutional environment that supports clear mandates and decentralization. VNG International works in Area C as it is critical for Palestine’s viability, covering 61% of the West Bank and housing 300,000 Palestinians who face significant challenges due to territorial fragmentation, restricted resource access, and limited infrastructure connectivity, all compounded by complex Israeli policies. These issues hinder effective governance and integrated service delivery across the region. The SDLG Programme is based on a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and VNG International.