Ecobreves – CHILE: New Life for Former Garbage Dumps

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SANTIAGO, Apr 14 2008 (IPS) - The Environmental Commission of the Chilean Metropolitan Region, the regional government, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and several municipalities are looking to refurbish two former garbage dumps in the capital: Cerros de Renca and Lo Errázuriz. In Lo Errázuriz a system will be built to capture biogases, leached materials and to manage rainwater across 10.32 hectares. In Renca, 25 hectares will be converted for use as gardens and walking and biking paths.

“With the participation of citizens and regional and local government bodies, we are recuperating environmental liabilities — land with great quantities of waste accumulated underneath –, transforming them into parks and green areas,” UNDP environment and energy official Vicente Ossa told Tierramérica.

The five-million-dollar project began in 2007 and work will conclude in 2009. Initial studies will be complete in July.