“Can you believe this was once a mountain of trash?” That’s right we are standing at Landfill Hill Raanana. This place was once known as the Hiriya landfill. It was a notorious garbage mountain. Locals even called it Sh!t Mountain.
For decades, Landfill Hill Raanana stank. It brimmed with over 25 million tons of trash. The dump spanned a half mile long. It rose over 87 yards above sea level.
Opened in 1952, the Hiriya dump symbolized over 50 years of Israeli garbage. It held everything from plastic bottles to old furniture. There were even bicycle tires and electrical cables.
The trash kept piling up. Finally, Landfill Hill Raanana closed in 1998. Birds were threatening planes at Ben Gurion Airport. They searched for food in the garbage.
But the story doesn’t end there. Landfill Hill Raanana is now Ariel Sharon Park. It is one of the world’s largest recycling facilities. The park’s motto is making garbage beautiful.
Every day, Hiriya sorts thousands of tons of waste. This includes household waste and construction debris. It also handles landscape matter. The waste transforms into fuel and fertilizer. It even becomes garden furniture.
Years of decomposing waste created methane gas. This made the grounds unstable. Now, they pump out the gas. They sell it to a nearby factory.
From the top of Landfill Hill Raanana, the view is amazing. You can see a 360-degree panorama of the entire Gush Dan region.
The park is named after Ariel Sharon. He approved its creation in 2003.
Landfill Hill Raanana proves that an environmental hazard can become a national treasure. Planners call Sharon Park Israel’s green future. They hope 50000 visitors will come each year. They can learn and enjoy leisure activities.
Landscape architect Peter Latz designed the park. He invented a technique to protect plants from contaminants. They cover the landscape with a bioplastic layer. This blocks methane. Then they add gravel and clean soil.
Even the flower garden near the visitor center helps. It treats sewage with bacteria from plant roots. This creates water for irrigation.
Three recycling plants operate here. They grind building waste into gravel. They turn dry organic matter into mulch.
Sixty gas wells collect methane gas. The plant generates electricity for the site. It even sells excess power to the Israel Electric Corporation.
So, next time you think of a landfill, remember Landfill Hill Raanana. It is a story of transformation and renewal. It is a testament to making garbage beautiful.