Haifa ‘clean air zone’ plan to begin

Haifa on Monday officially unveiled its detailed “Clean Air Zone Plan” for residential areas. The plan focuses on air pollution from vehicles by gradually banning polluting, diesel-powered vehicles from driving in residential areas. The hope is that by cutting pollution, it will slash the incidence of pollution-related disease among Haifa residents. Starting later this year, heavyweight diesel-fueled vehicles (weighing over 3.5 tons) that were made in 2005 or earlier will be prevented from driving through the “clean air zones.” The second stage, beginning in 2017, would ban smaller diesel vehicles made in 2006 or earlier. From 2018 until 2022, the plan calls to ban all diesel-powered vehicles, including taxis, made in 2009 or older, from driving these areas. Polluting vehicle owners would be required to install exhaust filters, offered at a subsidized price, to get permission to drive in the zones. The city would also set up a fund to collect fines from violators, with the money going toward anti-pollution measures. • Michelle Malka Grossman