Earthquake Wastes and Recycling
10 provinces were affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Kahramanmaraş on the night of February 6, 2023, and many buildings were destroyed as a result of the earthquake.
In addition to the destroyed buildings, many buildings received heavy and moderate damage and it was decided to demolish these structures with the damage reports.
In addition to the many problems experienced in the earthquake area, the rubble piles and
concrete wastes that emerged as a result of the collapse of the buildings also constitute a great problem. Specialists carry out studies on what to do with these wastes and how they should be collected.
According to the calculated data, we will encounter a total of 170 million tons of rubble waste during and after the earthquake. Among these ruins, there are not only construction wastes, but also furniture, white goods, electronic appliances, etc. are also available.
The main focus of the experts here is that piles of rubble pose a threat to human and natural life. When experts talk about these rubble piles that threaten human life, they
mostly focus on asbestos.
Asbestos was used in many buildings until it was banned in Turkey in 2010, and
inhaling asbestos has many harms for human health. There is a danger of asbestos in buildings that were built and demolished before 2010.
At the same time, the dust emitted from these debris is also harmful to human health, with the exception of asbestos, and experts emphasize that the debris should be irrigated in order to prevent this dust spread. Thanks to irrigation, the dust that will be removed from these ruins can be reduced to some extent.
Harms of Asbestos
Asbestos, also called “Aktoprak”, was used in many industrial areas such as construction before 2010. Asbestos was used in buildings, especially insulation materials, floor and ceiling coverings, building elements of boiler rooms, and gaskets.
These asbestos fibers are mixed with the air due to factors such as demolition of
buildings, pouring of plaster, deterioration of the integrity of the roof, and people are exposed to asbestos as a result of inhalation of the fibers.
Long-term exposure to asbestos causes lung diseases, calcification and cancer. For this reason, it is important to collect the debris in a way that causes the least damage to health.
Particular attention should be paid not to pollute the groundwater when storing hazardous
wastes, and the ground properties of the area where these wastes will be stored are therefore very important.
At the same time, it is important that these wastes are collected by professional teams with the right equipment, especially those who will collect these debris should wear masks to protect their respiratory tract.
Again, experts recommend that people who continue to live close to the ruins use masks.
Waste Recycling
In addition to asbestos, the places where these wastes will be disposed of are also very important. Although it is not a toxic waste; Leaving these rubble piles to nature will damage natural life and wetlands.
For this reason, the correct collection, storage and, if possible, recycling of wastes are very important in terms of sustainability. There should be two stages in waste management; The
first of these stages is the selection of temporary and final storage areas in proportion to the amount of waste.
At the same time, safety precautions should be taken against possible dangers in these storage areas, for example; Wastes should be kept above a certain level in case of fire.
The second stage in waste management is the recycling of these wastes in order to protect economic and natural life.
It is also stated by experts that recycling facilities should be established in the debris fields here. In these facilities, separation, crushing, screening and classification are carried out in the debris so that the wastes are made suitable for recycling. Recycling not only contributes to the economy and nature, but also creates new employment areas.
In the area where construction and demolition wastes are mostly evaluated, we come across aggregate production. They are mineral structures such as gravel and sand, which are mixed with water and cement in the production of materials such as mortar and concrete.
According to the researches, the use of aggregate provides 16% lower CO2 emissions and 35% lower energy consumption. This structure, which is also found in rubble waste; It can
be used in road construction, concrete production and reclamation and drainage systems so that these wastes can be reused.
Likewise, if these rubble piles are separated and stored; The metal and wood in these debris can also be recycled and thus used as raw materials for new products.
For example; wood and woods can be used as fuel or these wastes can be used for landscaping. In addition to the completely destroyed buildings in the region, there are also structures that need to be demolished in a controlled manner.
Equipment that is easy to remove (door, glass, etc.) during demolition of these structures
can be salvaged and reused. The deformed heat insulation materials on the outer walls can also be collected and used as sound insulation material in other buildings. The resulting packaging waste can also be returned to the suppliers for reuse.
With the correct management of waste, the rubble piles caused by the earthquake can be evaluated correctly. By separating and recycling wastes, both nature and human life can be protected and economic efficiency can be achieved.
Compilated by: Nilsu Kotil
References
https://gcris.iyte.edu.tr/bitstream/11147/13198/1/AFET%20B%c3%96LGES%c4%b0%20YIKINTI%20ATI%c4%9eI%20
Y%c3%96NET%c4%b0M%c4%b0%20.pdf
https://www.cmo.org.tr/deprem-bolgesinde-atik-yoenetimi
https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2023/gundem/son-dakika-deprem-atiklarinin-yonetiminde-en-buyuk-sorun-zamanla-yaris-7611312/
https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/analiz/3-soruda-saha-bulgulari-deprem-atiklari-ve-cevreye-etkileri/2836176
