Since the beginning of human evolution man has established a relationship with the earth and learned to use the planet and its resources for his benefit. Some of the first examples of this can be seen with the use of caves as dwellings and utilization of stones and sticks as primitive forms of tools. As time passes human population grows, advances and spreads, resulting in a growing need for resources and their variety. If we examine, for example, the construction needs of the Pyramids in Egypt we can notice some requirements that had to be fulfilled in order to complete their construction:

- First and foremost a large scale excavation of stone as the primary construction material.

- Considering the massive work force needed for this project there was a need for a vast infrastructure to be established for the process to take place.

- Accommodation, food, clothing, tools, transport systems etc.

These needs all resulted in the consumption of the planet’s resources and consequently created a footprint. Wherever civilization has set foot, one can see similar kinds of symptoms occurring. In modern times with the continuous growth of population and the establishment of large urban systems, advancements in technology, industrial production and transportation, the demand for the planet’s resources is undergoing a constant rise. While creating and evolving as a society, too often, we also create disasters. The consumption of the planet’s resources appears in different forms.
To mention some, one can consider the following:

- Land consumption - as cities expand, vast areas of land are consumed and nature is replaced by urban
   structures (a process also known as “urban sprawl”).

- “Ghost towns” - abandoned villages, towns, or cities, usually ones that contain substantial visible remains.      A town often becomes a “ghost town” because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to
  natural or human-caused disasters.

- Abandoned military facilities and structures can be found in many places around the world some of which
  in very large scales such as the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in Italy, the Incomprehensible number of
  bunkers spread along the Albanian borders and the German defense lines from the WWII.

- Abandoned industrial areas also contribute to the degradation of the planet.

- Transportation: as the life-cycle of airplanes, ships, trains, and vehicles come to an end they are placed in
  “junk” yards or in the case of airplanes, for example, in “grave yards” leaving a visible mark in the
   landscape.

- Mining and the extraction of materials from the earth results in the “scarring” of the environment in
   various forms such as mines, quarries, oil pumps and rigs, deforestation etc.

- Waste: one of the byproducts we as a society produce in massive, annually growing quantities.
  Most of this waste is transported to landfill sites and is one of the most contaminating elements
   introduced into the environment.

Most of the above mentioned examples remain abandoned after use and with no recovery action taking place. As residents of this planet and especially as Architects we have a great responsibility in implementing programs that take into consideration the effects on the environment for future development and expansion. At the same time, we need to repair the damage done in the past as mentioned above. This thesis aims to confront some of these problems in an attempt to provide solutions that combine the recovery of damaged areas caused by human civilization combined with innovated programs for a brighter future and the heritage of our following generations.

Meditating on the matter of deciding which problem to confront, my first thoughts were influenced by a strong desire to contribute on a subject related to my country, Israel. “Fortunately”, most of the previously mentioned issues can be found around Israel as they exist wherever human society exists. One of the things I have noticed is the presence of many landfill sites scattered along the country. This observation led me to the understanding that waste is one of the main issues to consider as a major problem of society and further investigation of the subject is worthwhile.

These sites commonly appear as noticeable hills on the, usually, flat landscape of Israel and , in some cases, the “filling” of abandoned quarries. Many of these landfills where illegally operated and where established in an era where no laws or governmental plan or policy on the subject existed. To date the activity at the majority of these sites has been terminated as a result of  new legislation corresponding to a new master plan published during the late 1980’s.

One can assume that the termination of activity at these sites and the new legislation and government policy mean the situation is under control and the waste we produce is taken care of.

Reflections on the topic at hand concluded in 2 main questions:

- What should be the future of these abandoned sites?

- How is the waste we produce today treated?