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If you've ever passed by a landfill, the sight of overflowing garbage and the arresting smell is quite alarming. Dumping waste into a large tract of land is one of the oldest and cheapest ways to deal with garbage disposal, yet it poses a number of serious social and environmental repercussions.
With awareness on the rise, governments and citizens around the world have come together to transform these areas of waste into thriving green spaces for the whole community to enjoy. Here are six examples of incredible transformations of former landfills that have gone from dirty and unfriendly to green and beautiful.
1. MOUNT HIRIYA, ISRAEL
Known as the largest landfill in the Middle East, Hiriya has been transformed into a green park dedicated to recycling and conservation. Hiriya is part of one of the largest environmental rehabilitation projects in the world - the future Ariel Sharon Park, which will be completed in 2020.
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2. THURROCK THAMESIDE NATURE PARK, ENGLAND
Formerly known as Mucking Marshes Landfill – yes, even the name sounds dirty! – the Thurrock Thameside Nature Park is now a growing green area that is expected to reach 845 acres. The transformation was spearheaded by well-known naturalist Sir David Attenborough and members of the Essex Wildlife Trust, who have converted the former dump into a bird watching paradise filled with footpaths and cycling lanes.
3. MOUNT TRASHMORE PARK, VIRGINA, USA
The name says it all - what was once one of the largest landfills in the US is now a beautiful park. Covered with clean soil, Mount Trashmore Park houses picnic areas, playgrounds, a basketball court and skating park. While it is not a nature reserve, Mount Trashmore Park gets a thumbs up for its green design and completely self-sustaining, low-water garden.
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4. QIAOYUAN PARK, CHINA
Once a toxic industrial wasteland, Qiaoyuan Park is now a thriving, low-maintenance urban green space. The project was taken on by an architect company that used regenerative landscaping, to create multiple garden spaces. The park emphasizes native vegetation and biodiversity, and gives residents a green place to chill and relax.
5. CHAMBERS GULLY, AUSTRALIA
This local landfill’s transformation was reclaimed and naturalized almost completely by volunteers – not government officials. The hard grassroots work has paid off, and Chambers Gully is now a wildlife haven that is home to scores of koala bears.
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6. SAI TSO WAN, HONG KONG
This former landfill held approximately 1.6 million tonnes of waste, stacking up to be 65 meters or 213 feet high! After being closed and sealed off with soil in 1981, a multi-purpose playground was created in 2004 powered by wind turbines, solar cells and energy derived from methane generated from the decomposed trash.
