The Inter-ministerial Tender Committee for BOT Waste Projects – headed by the Accountant General and with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Finance, and the Inbal company – announces the selection of the Shapir-Blugene-Dekel group in Israel‘s first inter-ministerial tender for the establishment of a waste-to-energy facility in Nevot Hovav. The tender is part of a broad initiative led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection to regulate the waste sector in Israel, promote advanced end-of-life facilities, and dramatically reduce landfilling.
The facility is expected to process approximately 60% to 70% of all waste generated in the southern region, by sorting approximately 300,000 tons of waste annually and recovering energy from approximately 300,000 tons of sorted residue, from which energy will be recovered for electricity production. After construction and upon completion of the initial operation period, the facility can be expanded in the future to produce approximately 50 MW of clean energy. The project will operate under a concession for 25 years, after which the facility will be returned to state ownership.
In November 2025, three bids were submitted for the tender published by the Tender Committee. Following the review of the bids, the Shapir-Blugene-Dekel group was selected, having received the highest score in the tender.
The groundbreaking facility integrates an advanced sorting system that will separate waste streams for recycling, and a first-of-its-kind system in Israel for energy recovery from non-recyclable waste residues. This process will produce steam to operate a turbine that generates approximately 50 MW of electricity. The project meets the highest environmental standards and is being established in accordance with the stringent European Directive (2019), while implementing advanced technologies common in hundreds of similar facilities across Europe. The facility is promoted according to Government Decision No. 1895 of October 2022, which approved a National Infrastructure Plan (TATL 107) Nevot Hovav – Waste-to-Energy Facility.
Currently, approximately 80% of waste in Israel is transported long distances and sent to landfills – the most polluting solution. Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has been leading a comprehensive reform in the waste sector in recent years, focusing on a transition from landfilling to advanced end-of-life solutions based on policy measures aimed at reducing waste generation, source separation of streams for recycling, sorting and extraction of recyclable materials in dedicated sorting facilities, support for the recycling industry, establishment of facilities for organic waste treatment, and promotion of waste-to-energy facilities – all in accordance with the ‘Pyramid Inversion’ strategy.
The Nevot Hovav facility is expected to serve as a pioneering model that will change the face of the waste sector. As a first-of-its-kind project, it paves the way for the establishment of a national network of similar facilities – initiated by both government and private entities – by creating market certainty and a new treatment standard. Its success will signal a sweeping transition from outdated disposal and treatment methods to an advanced infrastructure system, positioning Israel among the leading countries in the world.
The tender was promoted in full cooperation with the Beer Sheva Municipality. As part of an agreement between the municipality and the state, it was determined that all of Beer Sheva’s municipal waste would be evacuated to the facility. Similar agreements are expected to be signed with additional local authorities in the region. The establishment of the facility near the waste source implements the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s policy of local treatment, will significantly reduce transportation costs for the authorities, and will reduce the environmental pollution associated with transporting waste over long distances.
The tender was managed using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) method by the Inter-ministerial Tender Committee for BOT Waste Projects, headed by Ms. Oshrat David-Deker, Senior Deputy to the Accountant General, and with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Finance, and the state-owned Inbal company.
Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman: “We are stopping landfilling waste! After years of lack of progress and disputes, a modern facility for waste treatment and energy conversion will finally be established, which will reduce landfilling in the south. This is a new era in waste management, and Israel is joining European countries. The Nevot Hovav facility is an expression of the policy we have led – a new environmental standard for waste treatment that heralds the end of the landfill era in Israel. After years of almost complete reliance on landfilling, we are moving to the stage of advanced end-of-life facilities, under strict environmental supervision and in accordance with the highest global standards.
“This is a move that strengthens the protection of public health, reduces environmental risks, and mitigates long-term nuisances. The facility is a central component in the transition from reliance on landfilling to an advanced and tiered treatment system, based on source reduction, separation of recyclables, sorting, recycling, and energy recovery, and reduction of environmental nuisances. The move signifies a profound change in how the State of Israel plans, regulates, and supervises its waste sector.”
Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich: The selection of the concessionaire in the tender is a significant milestone in solving Israel’s waste crisis. This move ensures the country’s citizens, and particularly the residents of the south, a tangible improvement in quality of life; this is achieved by replacing the polluting landfill method with advanced treatment technology, which reduces environmental nuisances and ensures a clean living environment, and reduces the cost to the citizen at the end. The Nevot Hovav facility is part of a series of strategic infrastructure projects led by the Ministry of Finance, aimed at providing quality end-of-life solutions to citizens and serving as a significant growth engine for the Israeli economy. I would like to thank all the professional parties, including the Accountant General’s office, which led the tender committee.”
Mayor of Beer Sheva Rubik Danilovich: “Beer Sheva is leading a groundbreaking national initiative in waste management, placing us at the forefront of environmental innovation and expected to impact the entire country. The waste-to-energy facility in Nevot Hovav will turn waste into a valuable resource, reduce polluting landfilling, and protect public health and the quality of life of the residents of the south. This is advanced technology implemented worldwide, meeting strict emission standards and rigorous monitoring measures. The facility will only treat non-recyclable household waste from the southern region – a step of responsibility towards the next generation and a deep commitment to social-environmental justice in the Negev.”
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