Digital Proceeding of ICOCEE – CAPPADOCIA2015
S. Sahinkaya and E. Kalõpcõ (Editors) Nevsehir, TURKEY, May 20-23, 2015
Management of Solid Waste in the Sample of a Small Sized Turkish Town, Erzurum Bayram T. *1, Argun Y.A.2, Altikat A.3 and Dogru S.4
1
Department of Environmental Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Yuzuncu Yil University, TURKEY. (E-mail: [email protected])
2, 4
Environmental Health Programme, Vocational School of Health Services, Igdir University, TURKEY. (E-mail: [email protected], [email protected])
3
Department of Civil Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Igdir University, TURKEY. (E-mail: [email protected])
ABSTRACT
Rapid and consistent growth of human population has caused a considerable increase in the total amount of solid waste disposed to nature all over the world, which has turned out to be a great threat for public health and environment. Ever increasing threat of solid waste on humans and their environment forced nations to seek for efficient and suitable technologies and make effective regulations to eliminate this threat and control waste at least at its source. Until recently, solid wastes were disposed without considering possible consequences of disposal techniques in this process. Turkey is a country at the edge of accessing the European Union, therefore; it must regulate its legal frames conveniently with those of the Union in every sector and subject including environmental matters. The city of Erzurum is small sized and nearly unindustrialised city in the north-eastern part of Turkey, which suffers less from any type of pollution than the western part of the country; however among main environmental problems of which is solid waste. The aim of this study is to present a road map on legal basis for developing countries like Turkey considering and comparing the current legal frames for environment and giving an application example for the management of solid waste in a Turkish city.
Keywords: Solid waste, environmental matter, solid waste management, environmental laws, Erzurum.
19. INTRODUCTION
Until the middle of 20th century, humans faced nearly no problems caused by solid waste since population density was lower and there was enough land to deposit this waste without harming people. However, rapid and consistent growth of human population has caused a considerable increase in the total amount of solid waste disposed to nature all over the world, which has turned out to be a great threat for public health and environment. People readily realized the role of solid waste in the development of several diseases including extensive epidemics, pollution of surface and underground water, increased number of harmful insects and rodents, explosion of compressed gases and air pollution caused by its combustion. Therefore, the management of solid waste materials in an effective and systematic way has become vitally important. Ever increasing threat of solid waste on humans and their environment forced nations to seek for efficient and suitable technologies and make effective regulations to eliminate this threat and control waste at least at its source. However, management of waste has gradually been a challenge for people to cope with due to the rapid increase in its quantity because of expanded urban areas, production of new waste types and compositions caused by new manufacturing techniques and limited financial structure of local governments to collect and remove waste [5].
Turkey is a country at the edge of accessing the European Union, therefore; it must regulate its legal frames conveniently with those of the Union in every sector and subject including environmental matters. The city of Erzurum is a small sized and nearly unindustrialised city in the north-eastern part of Turkey, which
suffers less from any type of pollution than the western part of the country; however among main environmental problems of which is solid waste. The aim of this study is to present a road map on legal basis for developing countries like Turkey considering and comparing the current legal frames for environment and giving an application example for the management of solid waste in a Turkish city.
19.1.Comparison of solid waste regulation in Turkey and EC Directives
Solid waste management policy in EU is based on prevention, recycling and safe disposition principles. From this point of view, solid waste produced in EU region must not be carried elsewhere and must be disposed safely in the most suitable locations closest to the production area. Waste frame directive of EU stipulates that strict measures should be taken to reduce the waste production of member states, prevent the harm they cause, recycle them by reusing, improving and using them as energy sources [7].
In a study solid waste management scenarios have been taken into consideration for Istanbul complying with EU regulations in three EU directives. These directives:
Solid Waste Frame Directive (75/442/EEC) [8], Regular Storing Directive (99/31/EC) [9] and Packing Waste Directive (94/62/EC) [10].
In the scope of EC Directive 74/442/EEC on waste disposal, member states will prohibit the uncontrolled disposal and release of waste, provide recycling processes for wastes to be reused and support the measures for energy production from wastes if possible. It is stipulated that member states must take precautions to dispose their waste without threatening human health, devastating environment, causing harms especially to water, air, soil plant and animal life, creating disturbing situations like noise and odour, causing adverse effects on rural and susceptible areas and must determine the authorities responsible for the implementation of this directive.
Council Directive 99/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste was released with the aims of reducing and preventing the possible adverse effects on environment, especially surface and ground water, soil, air, and human health. Standard applications for the waste to be accepted to regular storage areas have been demonstrated. The Directive required member states to establish their permitting system for the management of landfill areas. It was also focused that current regular storage areas must be adapted to the terms of this Directive.
It was aimed with European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste that precautions in this area can be adjusted and consequently environment can be protected and domestic markets can be operated successfully by removing obstacles. In the scope of this directive, member states should prepare national programs on recycling packaging waste and establish system for collecting recycling and reusing packaging waste in order to achieve targets in the Directive. It is required for this Directive that at least 50 % and at most 60 % of the weight of packaging waste should be recycled and at least 25 % and at most 45 % of total packaging waste should be recycled in addition, 15 % of the weight of every packaging material should be recycled. With the new recommendation of the Commission requirements are consistently increasing with increasing numbers. For instance, recycling and reusing rates of 60 to 70 % and 55 to 70 % were recommended, respectively in 2006.
Even though EC directives and Turkish regulations have common objectives, there are considerable differences between them. Directives should be adjusted to the subheadings and effectiveness of their sanction strength should be increased in Turkey rather than adopting them exactly. It is required that apart from preparing a new regulation fully convenient with the regular disposal directive, related regulations should be changed and new laws should be prepared and enforced.
Solid waste regulation in Turkey is implemented under the responsibility of the Ministry Environment and Forestry. Table 2 presents Turkish regulations which are thought to be the counterparts of EC directives, revised and newly enacted.
Table 1. Developments in waste regulation of Turkey during adjustment process
Name and number of EU regulations Their counterparts Their situations in Turkey (on June 30th 2005) Commission Agreement related to Council
Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste
Waste Frame Regulation and its Annex
Directive 2000/76/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 4 December 2000 on the incineration of waste
Regulation on burning waste
Related part of the regulation on the Control of Dangerous Wastes was adjusted to this Directive Council Directive 99/31/EC of 26 April 1999
on the landfill of waste
Regulation related to Regular Storage of Waste
Related process is continuing.
Council Regulation No. 259/93 (EEC) of 1 February 1993 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community
Regulation on the control of shipping wastes
Related process is continuing.
Council Directive of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste (91/689/EEC)
Revision of the
regulation on the Control of Dangerous Waste
Regulation was published in 25755 Official Journal of 14 March 2005. European Parliament and Council Directive
94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste
Regulation on packaging and packaging waste
Regulation was published in 25338Official Journal of 30 July 2004 and enforced on 01 January 2005.
Council Directive 87/101/EEC of 22 December 1986 amending Council Directive 75/439/EEC of 16 June 1975 on the disposal of waste oils.
Regulation on the control of waste oil
Regulation was published in 25353 Official Journal of 21 January 2004 and enforced.
Council Directive 96/59/EC of 16 September 1996 on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and
polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT)
Regulation on the management of PCB PCT wastes
Related process is continuing.
Council Directive 91/157/EEC of 18March 1991 on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances. Commission Directive 93/86/EEC of 4 October 1993 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 91/157/EEC on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances.
Regulation on the control of used batteries and accumulators
Regulation was published in 25569 Official Journal of 31 August 2004 and enforced on 01 January 2005.
Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000
on end-of life vehicles
Regulation on the control and management of en – of life vehicles
Related process is continuing with the collaboration of Industry and Trade Ministry.
19.2.The sample of Erzurum
Erzurum is a Turkish town located at an elevation of 1850 in the north-eastern part of the country (41.10 E, 26.39 N). The city has a population of 369.000 people and its grand municipality includes three district municipalities (Aziziye, Palandöken and Yakutiye).
The city produces 1000,452 m3 of solid waste including organic and inorganic materials (Table 2). Table 2. Amount and composition of waste in Erzurum
Municipality Collected waste amount
Organic Paper Rubbish Textile Construction material
Mixed material
Metal Plastic Glass
Grand municipality 34,849 19,04 1,254 0,823 0,493 1,509 3,796 0,483 5,044 2,407 PALANDÖKEN 372,171 200,823 6,364 19,751 11,834 36,224 31,446 4,004 41,785 19,94 YAKUTøYE 331,26 166,26 15,702 21,835 13,083 40,046 24,054 3,063 31,964 15,253 KAZIM KARABEKøR 193,831 80,381 5,311 18,089 10,839 33,176 14,897 1,897 19,795 9,446 DADAùKENT 68,341 31,922 2,128 3,911 2,344 7,173 6,751 0,86 8,971 4,281 Total (m3) 1000,452 498,426 30,759 64,409 38,593 118,128 80,944 10,307 107,559 51,327 Distribution in the total
waste amount (%)
Waste produced in the city was collected and deposited by each municipality until 2006 when solid waste union of these municipalities called (EKABB) was established. After the establishment of this union, solid waste produced by each municipality collect and transport solid wastes throughout the city in 2006. Before this date, these services were provided individually by each municipality (Grand and sub-municipalities of Palandöken, Yakutiye, Kazõm Karabekir and Dadaúkent) inside their border. [4]
Target of the Union is to provide services, which must be done by these founder members, about the collection, transportation, recycling and removal of solid wastes, or to let other organisations provide these services. In order to achieve these aims, the Union is also responsible for the provision and operation of the most productive systems for the collection and transportation of solid wastes by constituting logistics; planning, finding and applying methods where recyclable materials can be selected from solid wastes; building and operating facilities required for the ultimate removal of wastes. In order to prevent environmental problems that are caused by solid wastes and threats to public health, the Union can take initiative and responsibility for demanding and using domestic or outer loans or grants through State guarantee. If necessary, the Union can give waste material collection, transportation, removal and recycling services for the settlements other than the members by making regulations and demanding prices for each service. It should also prepare and update a database about solid wastes and constitute a databank. [3]
With the aim of collecting and transporting solid wastes in Erzurum, new standardized containers with the volumes of 800 litres and 10 m3 and waste collecting trucks with the volume of 22 m3 and hydro-lift systems were purchased by the Union. Collection and transportation of solid wastes by only one organisation (EKABB) have reduced the service cost, begun to give more quality services, and a systematic service understanding began with a well-planned action. [6]
It was determined that about 1.000 m3 of domestic solid wastes is produced daily by homes and offices in Erzurum. This makes 2.5 l per capita (if considered density, it makes 0.5 kg solid waste). Even though it is lower than the Turkey’s average, this amount is a very serious production. Consequently, yearly 70,000 tons of solid waste is produced in the city. [6]
It is domestic waste that is generally collected in containers and taken from them by trucks with compressing mechanisms. This group includes wastes from homes, commercial wastes, wastes from offices, and wastes from bazaar areas. Because of the lacking of different collection and transportation systems, recycling and regaining activities have not yet been applied. Therefore, all the wastes are collected in the same containers and it is impossible to separate domestic wastes clearly from others in Erzurum. [4] Solid waste is among the most important environmental pollutants all over the world and in also Turkey. It is a legal requirement according to Environment Law code No. 2872, No. 1593 General Environmental Health and No. 1580 and 3030 Municipality Laws in Turkey that waste must be stored, transported and disposed using suitable techniques [1].
In Turkey, mean amount of solid waste per capita is 1.38 kg in Turkey. It is strictly prohibited in the regulations on the control of solid waste to dispose waste to water reserves, streets, forests and similar areas. People producing waste have to conserve it in closed containers in order not to cause environmental hazards and make them ready to be collected. Individuals and private or public institutions have to make waste they produce ready at the locations where they are produced for collection [3].
In this respect, Turkish State Ministry of Environment and Forest has made regulations on “waste management plans”. Under these regulations, unrecyclable waste must be disposed using suitable methods. In the solution of problems caused by waste, establishment of disposal facilities is considered to be the main focus in Turkey [3]. However, various problems related to waste management can be seen due to the lack of an accurate database about the disposal, recycling, quality and quantity features of waste and deficiency licensed carrier vehicles suitable to carry wastes in number and quality, limited financial sources of municipalities and various other reasons, many are encountered in Turkey.
In order to make waste transportation a cost effective work and relieve heavy traffic load in cities some stations for waste collection should be constructed in city centres. At these stations, wastes collected by small and medium sized vehicles can be transferred to larger vehicles and these vehicles can carry waste to processing and storage areas.
Transportation of waste can be performed by directly loading waste from small to larger vehicles or discharging the load of small vehicles to the stations and reloading waste to the larger vehicles. In order not to produce odour, dust, noise and visual pollution, transportation should be performed in closed areas and
these stations should be constructed indoor.
Principle policy in waste material management in Turkey is minimisation, recycling, and eventually removal of wastes. Authorities are obliged to prevent pollutions in the case of the pollution probability; polluters are obliged to take measurement to quit pollutions and remove or reduce their effects whenever they happen.
It is the essence in our country that production of wastes and their harms must be prevented, they must be recycled, and these recyclable materials must be collected from their sources by source-separation. Un-recyclable wastes must be removed in convenient methods defined in the regulations. Environment and Forestry Ministry accepts the “solid waste removal facilities” in environmental conservation and prevention of pollution from domestic wastes to be main principle in the solution of environmental problems in our country. [4]
With the decision of Turkish State Board of Ministries on 9 April 2003 and numbered 2003/5485, Erzurum Union of Municipalities for Waste Materials (EKABB) was established for the collection, transportation, and removal of solid wastes inside the border of Erzurum Grand Municipality and realisation of Erzurum Integrated Solid Waste Management. Founder members of EKABB are Erzurum Grand Municipality, and first stage municipalities of Palandöken, Yakutiye, Kazõm Karabekir and Dadaúkent. [4]
Advancements in manufacturing and marketing techniques have inevitably caused excessive use of natural reserves. Waste produced as the result of today’s production – consumption process has reached up to so dangerous a level that it threatens both environment and public health. Consequently, world countries have obliged to adopt new environmental protection strategies. In this respect, during the adjustment process of legal procedures to EU’s legal requirements about waste management, wastes should be recycled or disposed using suitable techniques.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Material of the study is composed of works, reports and statistical data by EKABB. Objective data were controlled for their accuracy by comparing different sources. For the applicability and sustainability of the study, existent legal and regulatory bases were sought and applications in UE were looked through and compared with present one. In the scope of the study, related studies were reviewed and a comparison was made in Erzurum city.
3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Problems of the world needing immediate actions are mainly caused by uncontrolled disposal, emission and release of solid, gaseous and liquid waste to environment as well as excessive use of natural reserves without considering the principles of “sustainable development”. These problems can only be solved considering a systematic management understanding; an integrating and collaborative approach; and application of regional plans in global scale.
In order to solve the problems caused by solid wastes in Turkey and all over the world, the only requirement is scientific point of view and methods supplied by environmental engineering discipline. However, in the reduction of waste amount, a consuming policy and clean production understanding; source separation of wastes and recycling of wastes having economic values; application of a program that can reduce the waste amounts before sending them to ultimate removal facilities; public participation in these processes with public and private sectors must be considered as the main principles of a contemporary waste management policy.
Regulations related to the regional waste management plans require a substructure to provide collaboration with EU and dual partnerships for the adaptation to EU regulations. For this aim, projects enabling to determine what kind of substructures and investments are needed are being carried out. In order to implement these prepared plans with the support of EU, industrialists are being informed about how they can utilise EU Investment Funds. [4]
General targets of EU Investment Funds are to support small scale substructure projects that can improve life quality and ease investments and by doing so, to promote the economic and social and development in the targeted regions. With this programmes, it is targeted to improve environmental quality by reducing
pollution (air, noise, water pollutions and waste materials). Consequently, the fact obtained from all mentioned things is that pollution must be prevented in its source. Protection of pollution in its source and taking environmental measures during investment process are not only less expensing but also give the impression of being respectful for environment on public.
REFERENCES
[1] Öztürk ø., Demir ø., Özabali A. Tezer B. H.,” EU Environmental Management Plan”, September 2005. [2] Erzurum Solid Waste Management Project, 2004–2007. Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality, Erzurum,
Turkey.
[3] Environmental Policy of EU and Turkey’s Adaptation 2007. Economic Development Assn. Publishing, Article 9 of the Law No. 4856, The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, østanbul.
[4] Turkish Environment Association, 2008. Article 11 of the Law on Environment No. 2872, Ankara. [5] Waste Management, 2008. TMMOB Environment Engineers Chamber Publishing, øzmir.
[6] Sarptas, H., Gunduz, O., Dolgen, D. and Alpaslan, N.A., 2005. Rehabilitation of Solidwaste Disposal Sites, 3rd National Congress on Solid Waste, UKAK-2005 Proceedings Book, pp. 201-208.
[7] Turan T., Eren Z., “Solid Effluent Topic and Management of Solid Effluent in the EU Adaptation Period”, TURKAY 2007.
[8] European Council Directive on Waste /75/442/EEC), 1975.
[9] European Council Directive, On the Landfill of Waste (99/31/EEC), 1999. [10] European Council Directive, On Packaging Waste (94/62/EEC), 1994.
