In one of the world’s most impressive reclamation projects, Israel’s largest landfill dump has been turned into a 2,000-acre ecological park three times the size of New York’s Central Park.
Mt. Hiriya, overlooking the city of Tel Aviv, was home to an active landfill for nearly 50 years, at its peak receiving 3,000 tons of garbage a day. The makeover began in 2001 and the new park opened to the public last July. The multifunctional facility is being called a “green lung” and includes walking and cycling trails, ponds and extreme sports activities, a 150-acre recycling facility, and will soon be home to a 50,000-seat amphitheater, one of the largest concert venues in Israel.
One of the biggest problems from the landfill was the buildup of biogas, formed by the breakdown of waste and trapped between layers of garbage. Now, 80 wells in the mountain pump out this gas and ship it to the city of Azor, where it is turned into green energy. A buried bioplastic layer prevents the biogas from escaping into the environment.
A high-tech irrigation system uses precious rainwater to hydrate the soil via a man-made aquifer built inside the mountain, allowing for the reemergence of natural vegetation.
The new Ariel Sharon Park is one of the largest and most advanced environmental projects in the Middle East and experts from around the world have been visiting the site looking to replicate its successes in countries such as the U.S., Russia and China.
Hiriya Mountain used to be called “stinky hill”, but is has become a tourist attraction and popular recreation spot for Israeli families.
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Massive Trash Site ‘Hiriya’ Turns Into Israel’s Largest Eco-Park
Photo courtesy of No Camels: Israeli Innovation News.
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Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.