The high-level of intensive irrigated agricultural activities in the Jericho district, have resulted in extensive usage of plastic covers, for tunnels and mulch, and plastic pipes used in drip irrigation. As a result, the amount of the yearly generated plastic solid waste has increased. The remaining plastic is either collected and left at the surrounding areas, where it is occasionally ingested by livestock causing death, or burned at the farm side causing serious air pollution problems. Although the amount of generated medical waste is probably small, the possible harmful effects of these wastes are of serious concern because of the potentially infectious nature of the materials. Throughout the West Bank, proper precautions are not taken in handling, sorting, labeling, transporting and disposal of medical products and waste.
Medical centers lack both official dumping sites and adequate incinerators.
In the Jericho district, there is only one government hospital located in the city and other small medical clinics and laboratories distributed in the nearby villages. Field survey shows that the generated wastes are either disposed of in municipal waste collection containers or burned on-site near the medical centers. The burning sites are very close to the residential areas, where children can easily reach the site and scavenge the wastes. The government hospital at Jericho city dumps off most of its hazardous waste into the municipal containers including operational wastes, urine and stool samples. Needles are being held in special containers, since they are sharp enough and could easily harm people dealing with them.