Moscow is a rapidly growing metropolis. Every square meter of expensive metropolitan land should be in demand, cultivated and if possible built up. Technological parks, kindergartens, housing estates are being built on the territory of former industrial zones. Where chimneys used to smoke or dumps rose in stinking heaps, parks turn green. The notorious dump in Salaryevo also fell into the beautification zone. Work on turning the landfill into a green oasis has been going on for ten years.
History of occurrence
In the 60s of the last century, the territory near the village of Salaryevo was not yet included in the boundaries of the metropolitan metropolis. In a deep ravine outside the outskirts, they began to take garbage from the surrounding territories.
By April 1, 2007, the landfill turned into the largest landfill in Europe, which could be observed even from space. The landfill in Salaryevo in the photo from satellites in shape resembled a dove of peace. But this record did not please the locals at all. The landfill area of Salaryevo reached 59 hectares. Over half a century, more than 15 million tons of various wastes accumulated in it, which formed a mountain up to 80 meters high. Local residents appealed to the authorities with a request to close the landfill, which became a threat not only to human health, but also to the environment.
Reclamation Stages
Closing the landfill is a long-term, laborious and costly process. To begin with, specialists diagnose the landfill, determining the volumes of emitted gases and filtrates. This is done in order to install the equipment necessary for the collection and disinfection of toxic substances, which are an indispensable companion of the landfill.
Landfill in Salaryevo closed. But taking millions of tons of garbage to other places is simply impossible. Therefore, it was decided to rehabilitate the land.
The landfill is compacted for several years so that piles of garbage are compacted. Rolling is done twice a year: in spring, as soon as the snow melts, and in autumn, before frosts. This allows you to remove accumulated liquid from the inner layers.
After that, the walls of the landfill are reinforced with reinforced concrete. To drain accumulated gases, bore pits with pipes and gas collectors are drilled inside. This allows the accumulated methane and the smell of rotting out.
The next stage of reclamation is covering the entire surface of the landfill with waterproofing material that does not let rain and melt water deep into the garbage. A layer of sand and fertile soil are poured on top, on which green spaces are planted.
Salaryevsky reclamation
In August 2007, the Research and Development Institute for Urban Planning prepared a project for the rehabilitation of Salaryevo. According to the approved plan, already in 2009 the territory was covered with waterproofing material and covered with fertile soil.
50 wells were drilled for gas extraction, and a drainage collector was built for the filtrate. But gross errors were made in the calculations. So, the treatment system was designed to process 200 cubic meters of filtrate per day, while its real volume reached 800 cubic meters. The untreated liquid fell into the soil adjacent to the landfill and into underground sources, polluting the Sosenka River, which is a tributary of the Desna.
An audit conducted in 2014 revealed a number of gross violations. The authorities decided to re-carry out remediation work in order to avoid an environmental disaster.
The future of Salaryevo
After completion of the restoration work, the park will appear at the place where Salaryevo dump was located. Here the trees turn green and the flowers bloom. Cycling paths and hiking trails are available on site. Here you can try your hand at a climbing wall or ride a skateboard. In winter, it will be a paradise for skiers, snowboarders and outdoor enthusiasts. In addition to sports fields, there will be cafes, places for recreation for citizens of all ages.
Initially, the plans of the city governors were to equip a ski resort with ski jumps and ski slopes of different difficulty levels in the park at the Salaryevo garbage dump. But in the immediate vicinity of the former training ground is the airport, and the construction of high-rise buildings is prohibited by safety precautions. This idea had to be abandoned.
Residential complex
Already now a housing estate is being built next to the former landfill - Salaryevo Park. According to the plan, kindergartens, shops, cultural objects will be built here. Roads will be laid, a subway station built and a tram line laid. The authorities are doing everything possible so that people can live and work here without fear.
In the world, the landfills that have served their dumps have been reclaimed more than once. Examples of turning mountains of garbage into green parks can be seen in New York, Finland, Ireland, Libya, and the Canaries. These are worthy role models. Here, it was possible to turn areas dangerous for the environment into real oases, which have become a favorite vacation spot for citizens. Perhaps Salaryevo dump will be another outstanding achievement of the Moscow authorities.