The average citizen throws out at least one garbage bag into the bin everyday. Few make a point of removing paper products and plastic bottles, and even fewer separate wet from dry waste, which can be recycled. The environment suffers greatly, however it now appears that the State also endures a substantial financial loss. During a conference on waste separation held by the Environmental Protection Ministry, officials stated that according to financial calculations the removal of waste without separating it and placing it in waste deposit sites costs the State some NIS 577 (roughly $151) per ton. Separated trash, however directed to compost, recycling only amounts to NIS 490 (roughly $129) per ton in government expenses. In 2007, the waste deposit tax came into action in the purpose of encouraging authorities to send trash for recycling and avoid burying it. The tax is expected to go up in the coming years in order to keep encouraging local authorities to reduce the amount of deposited waste and extract as much recyclable material as possible. Data introduced during the conference revealed that some 40% of domestic waste in Israel is considered wet trash - organic materials mainly comprised of left over food. The remaining 60% are regarded as dry waste, which mostly consists of various package materials, which are for the most part eligible for recycling. It was also indicated that disposable nappies alone comprise 4.5% of overall domestic waste. Currently, most garbage is disposed of in mixed condition. Apart from a small number of materials, such as plastic bottles and paper, which go to recycling, all waste ends up directly at deposit sites. Those are not only considered immediate environmental hazards, but also only a partial solution. Environmentalists assess that very soon Israel would have no place left to deposit the amount of trash produced, particularly considering the economic growth, rise in the standard of living and population increase. 'Waste revolution underway' The Environmental Protection Ministry wishes to find a solution to the situation, as many Western countries have already started doing. In addition to reducing the amount of domestic waste, the purpose is to recycle extensive parts of the garbage. "Organic waste can be turned into compost and organic fertilizer, whereas dry waste can be returned to the market as recycled raw materials," a source in the Environmental Protection Ministry said. It is a relatively easy function as far as the consumer is concerned, which requires the use of a number of garbage bins. The challenge lies in creating an urban infrastructure for the collection of the separated waste and the handling of it. Ministry officials stressed that although the creation of a new infrastructure would allegedly increase waste treatment expenses, authorities would eventually save costs due to eschewal of waste deposit tax. During the waste separation conference Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan said the ministry would support authorities in establishing a system for the collection of recyclable dry waste, paying for 70-90% of the costs. "The waste treatment revolution is underway," Erdan said. "In the beginning of 2010 the Environmental Protection Ministry will propose a bill for the recycling of package materials in the purpose of creating a waste separation apparatus in cooperation with authorities and the industry."