A recent conference on waste management in the Arab sector and its effects on public health held in Nazareth revealed a disconcerting increase in the phenomenon of trash burning. A poll commissioned by the Environmental Protection Ministry revealed that some 36% of the residents of Arab communities have either witnessed or participated in trash burning, and over half of them cited the lack of waste management and removal services as the main cause. The poll, held by Geocartography, included 500 men and women ages 25 and over. The data revealed that 66% of the residents in Arab communities in southern Israel and 50% of the residents in Arab communities in northern Israel have been exposed to trash burning. In addition, 16% of Arab residents across Israel agreed that "the right was to dispose of trash was to burn it." "Trash burning is hazardous, especially to children and the elderly," Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan said at the conference. "We aim to improve the situation and we will invest more money in education in the Arab sector and minority communities… I intend to present the government with a bill to create NIS 200 million (approx. $53 million) recycling infrastructure for the sector." According to Environmental Protection Ministry data, Israelis produce 1.6kg of trash per capita daily, compared with 2.5kg in the United States. Follow Ynetnews onFacebook and Twitter