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Freshkills, located on Staten Island, was once the world's largest landfill. However, in 2001, New York City closed it and initiated a process to transform it into a park. The park's development has seen several milestones, including the opening of a soccer field in 2013 and a bikeway in 2015. Recently, the first section, North Park, opened, allowing public access to the former landfill's interior.
Freshkills' history as a landfill began after World War II when NYC Parks Commissioner Robert Moses selected it as a landfill site. Initially, the plan was to use it for housing after three years. However, due to the city's rapid growth and the need for waste disposal, Freshkills was used for dumping trash. At its peak, it accepted up to 29,000 tons of garbage daily, expanding the site and creating significant odors. Legal battles eventually led to the city's decision to transform the area.
In the United States, there are over 2,600 municipal solid waste landfills. Federal regulations require ongoing maintenance to prevent pollution, even after closure. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, can be released from landfills if not managed properly.
The trash in Freshkills has been sculpted into four hills surrounding a tidal creek that is now open for activities like kayaking. To prevent toxic leaks, layers of soil, sand, and plastic lining have been placed atop the garbage, including a vent layer that directs any escaping landfill gas (a mix of carbon dioxide and methane) into pipes. This approach is essential to protect the environment
More than 500 former landfill sites across the US have been transformed into energy projects that convert landfill gas into usable fuel. Beneath the 2,200 acres of Freshkills' grass and soil, a gas collection system extracts landfill gas, which is then sent to a purification plant where methane is removed. The city sells 1.5 million cubic feet of this treated biogas to the local utility, which distributes it to Staten Island homes for cooking and heating, demonstrating an environmentally responsible approach to waste management and renewable energy generation.
