Turning a mountain sized garbage mound into a state of the art national park is now fast on its way to becoming reality outside Tel Aviv. What was formerly (and still) known by many as the Hiriya Waste Disposal Site, or simply the Hiriya Garbage Mound now has a new name, The Ariel Sharon Park, as well as a new look.

Ariel Sharon Park observation point

The eco park project owes a lot to Environment Ministry head Gilad Erdan, and to internationally renown landscape architect Peter Latz has received a lot of media attention lately.

The park which comprise an area of 8,000 dunam (2,000 acres) will cost more than $250 million when completed. Its land area will make it three times the size of New York City’s Central Park.

A special government sponsored company, the Ariel Sharon Park Company, is a composed third by national government officials; with another third from the Tel Aviv Municipality and the remaining third from environmental organizations. So, far around $28 million has been spent on the project, with some of the money coming from private sources, including the Beracha Foundation, an NGO that initiated the project with the first $8 million donation.

Illustration of completed mound part of park project

Upon the recent completion of  Stage 1 of the project, which included a special observation point on the “summit” of the mound, and planting of numerous trees and other landscaping, a special event was held there, which included an evening Sound and Light Show.

Other special planned features at the park will be a small lake and a 50,000 seat amphitheater.

The dump was opened in 1952 as a waste collection site to take care of the growing needs of the populations of Tel Aviv and nearby communities. Before it was finally officially closed in 1998, the site would receive thousands of tons of garbage on a daily basis. The closure was finally approved due to thousands of sea gulls and other birds flying off the mound and creating a hazard for commercial airpliners approaching and taking off from nearby Ben Gurion Airport.

When interviewed recently, Dr. Martin Weyl, director of the Beracha Foundation said:

“It always bothered me that this existed. It was an eyesore, and nobody really gave it any attention. People would stand and the waste would go to here. The purpose of this idea was to change the attitude (of people) toward garbage.”

Now that Hiriya, is getting a well needed facelift, perhaps more green attention can be turned to other landfills and garbage mounds, including the one where that “million dollar mattress” may be resting (it still hasn’t been found).

Read more on Hiriya Garbage Mound and other waste disposal sites:

Woman Tosses Million Dollar Mattress into Dump: She Should have Recycled

Israel’s Arbor Day Concentrates More on Green Development Projects

Going on a Picnic to Tel Aviv’s Garbage Mountain

50,000 Seat Amphitheater Planned for Hiriya, Israel’s Trash Mountain

The post A New “Face” for Israel’s Garbage Park appeared first on Green Prophet.

A possible solution to Israel’s water crisis, Israel’s slow adoption of renewable energy, self-sustaining nuclear energy and more headlines related to Israeli cleantech and the environment.

Oregon’s governor will be heading a delegation to Israel later this month to check out Israeli cleantech opportunities. Israel and Canada are set to collaborate on birding and the environment and a coral reef has been found deep under sea off the coast of Tel Aviv. For these stories and more, see this week’s headlines below.

Investment
Oregon’s Governor Looks for Clean Tech Opportunities in Israel

Electricity monitoring co CES looks to TASE IPO

Canada and Israel to cooperate on birding, environment

Water
Reclaimed waste water solution to water crisis in Israel?

First Images Of Coral Reef Off Tel Aviv’s Shore

Renewable Energy in Israel
Israel lags far behind world in renewable energy

Self-sustaining nuclear energy from Israel

Region
Lebanese maps give Israel more territorial water

Going Green Is A Tactical Offensive In War

Missed last week’s headlines edition? Catch up on the latest cleantech investments news, SolarEdge’s latest round, a new cleantech collaboration between Israelis and Palestinians and more.

Image via benuski.

The post Israel Cleantech Intelligence: Sustainable Nuclear Energy and 8 More Headlines appeared first on Green Prophet.

Israel’s plan to use renewable energy to power highway lighting, Italy’s plan to use Israeli technology for highway signs, the OECD and more headlines related to Israeli cleantech this past week. Image via david55king.

During the week of May 23, 2010, Israel announced that it will be converting the energy sources for its infrastructure, specifically highway lighting, to renewable ones, including wind. Israeli and Taiwanese water experts met in Taiwan to discuss water technology and cooperation and Solaredge was named a Red Herring 100 Europe Award winner for 2010. For these stories and more, see below.

Solar
Sahara joins hands with Israeli co for solar plant

SolarEdge Named Red Herring 100 Europe Award Winner for 2010

Water
Taiwanese, Israeli water technology experts meet in Taipei

TaKaDu Adds Brains to the “Dumb” Water Grid

Electric
Israel’s Innowattech to Provide Renewable Energy for Highway Signs in Italy

In Israel
Wind-powered lighting for the highway

Netanyahu Says Israel in OECD Will Bring Investment (Update1)

Israel’s Best and Brightest Debate Climate Policy

Dalton McGuinty talks energy and water in Israel

The post Wind And 9 Israel-Related Cleantech Headlines, Week of May 23, 2010 appeared first on Green Prophet.