Tourism surge drives up trash levels on Lake Kinneret shores

For three years, Lake Kinneret knew a quiet that was almost forgotten. The war and security situation kept travelers and vacationers away, and the national lake, which is usually packed with thousands of visitors during the summer months, stood nearly deserted for part of that period.

However, with the return of Israelis to the shores of Lake Kinneret, a familiar and particularly ugly phenomenon has also returned: Piles of trash left behind by vacationers.

While the water level of Lake Kinneret is currently 10 cm. below the lower red line, and about 4.3 meters are still needed to reach a full Kinneret, the level of trash on the beaches is actually on the rise, following three years during which a decrease was recorded.

On the beaches managed by the Kinneret Cities Association, a crew operates to collect waste, but this is a complex task that takes time. Some of the trash is blown by the wind into the water, making a complete cleanup nearly impossible. On beaches that are unregulated or unmanaged, the situation is even more severe. After vacationers leave, there is no one to clean up after them.

Thus, glass bottles, snack bags, barbecues, shade canopies, packaging, and everything else brought to the shore by visitors remain on the lakefront, staying behind long after they have driven home.

One person who decided not to stand idly by is Naftali Maimoni, a resident of Yavne'el and owner of a fishing equipment store in the Moshava. For him, Lake Kinneret is much more than a vacation spot; it is his second home.

Maimoni began cleaning the beaches himself, while simultaneously launching a widespread cleanup operation to which he called his fellow fishermen who visit Lake Kinneret regularly. To encourage participants, he even decided to award a prize to the top cleaner.

"For me, Lake Kinneret is my home, and when people come and leave dirty beaches like this, the feeling is as if someone entered your house and destroyed it," he said painfully.

"Near Shikmim Beach, for example, it was a catastrophe. Aside from the fact that my employee and I clean up ourselves, people send me videos from all the beaches, and they filled dozens of trash bags there. What has it come to? Everything goes into the water, everything is ruined. It is a matter of education from home, and it is one of the most frustrating things there is. Lake Kinneret was clean, and it's a shame. Why does this need to happen?"

According to him, the community activity is already starting to make an impact. Fishermen arriving at Lake Kinneret are joining the cleanup effort, photographing the situation on the ground, and passing reports to him from various beaches.

"We are constantly trying to initiate cleanup operations to influence and educate, especially young people," Maimoni said. "The fishermen are getting involved in this operation in a big way. People are joining all the time, and I receive new messages and videos every day. Thank God, we are managing to move things forward."

The problem, according to him, is not merely aesthetic. Waste left on the beach can be swept into the water, harm wildlife, and pollute one of Israel's most vital natural resources. Unlike the water level, which cannot be changed at the press of a button, the trash level can be brought down, if only everyone who visits Lake Kinneret takes back what they brought with them.