A World First: Kfar Saba to Convert Dry Waste Into Clean Energy, No Landfill Required.

For the first time anywhere in the world, a city will convert dry municipal waste into clean energy on-site — without transport, without sorting facilities, and without a landfill. Kfar Saba is that city, and Zohar CleanTech is the technology making it possible. The pilot will be installed in the city's industrial zone and operated within a closed facility. It uses gasification — a thermochemical process without oxygen — to recover energy from urban waste streams including pruning waste, paper, cardboard, plastic, and textiles. The system is self-powered, requiring no external energy source during operation. The pilot is expected to run for approximately 18 months, with the first six months focused on processing green pruning waste. It is jointly funded by Israel's Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environmental Protection — both of which have formally endorsed the project. The initiative is led by Dr. Chanan Gabay alongside Udi Lahav, Head of the City Appearance Division, as part of Kfar Saba's broader circular economy policy — a commitment to waste treatment that produces zero environmental emissions. Mayor Rafi Sa'ar called the project part of the city's vision as a sustainable city, joining a series of green initiatives that include energy-saving systems and self-generated electricity. "We will continue to lead and promote innovative projects for the future of all of us," he said. For Zohar CleanTech, Kfar Saba represents a landmark milestone — the first municipal deployment of its technology, backed at the national level.