Sidon’s trash
mountain removed

Amphitheater, tree nursery underway

The Municipality of Sidon announced that it has completely removed its notorious ‘trash mountain’.

The 58-meter high garbage and rubble mountain was transformed into an 8.5-meter high green, landscaped hill. Part of the garbage was buried in the landfill and part of it was sent to a waste treatment plant.

Saida mayor Mohammad Saudi said: “The hill lies on top of the landfill which is composed of several plastic layers.”

The $25 million project began in late 2012 following an agreement between the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP chose the contractor and oversaw the project’s execution.

One million cubic meters of garbage and rubble that cannot be treated have been buried. The landfill releases gases but these emissions will be disintegrated within seven years.

Saudi said: “To the south of the 65,000 m2 hill, we are creating another 10-meter high hill that will include an amphitheater and nursery with 10,452 plants and 886 trees, three of which are over 200 years old.”

The dumpsite was open in 1982, receiving 300 tons of solid waste a day, from the municipalities of Saida and Zahrani.

Solid waste is now transported to and processed at a waste treatment plant near the landfill. The 38,000 m2 facility is operated by IBC, a local environmental consultancy firm.