Solid Waste: A Problem or a Valuable Resource?

Are we aware of how rapidly we are consuming our natural resources, how the "Earth Overshoot Day" announced for 1 August 2018 recedes further each year, or the economic value that solid waste we dispose of in landfills could actually generate? "Waste" has long been discussed in Turkey from various angles and numerous disposal solutions have been proposed, yet particularly since 2015, the concepts of "Circular Economy" and "Zero Waste" adopted globally and domestically, along with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the transition to a "Low-Carbon Economy", have enabled waste to transform from a "problem" into a "solution"—a transformative tool to be revalued as "ore", a reusable and valuable raw material source. With the evolving environmental context, studies on "integrated/sustainable waste management hierarchy", "climate change", "renewable energy", "waste-to-energy" and similar topics have become priority areas in Turkey, particularly accelerating in recent years. The linear economic model, which was applied until recently worldwide and based on a "throwaway" philosophy, has revealed that existing natural resources are insufficient for the global population to maintain a quality and healthy life. Projections indicate that transitioning to a "Circular Economy Model" based on zero waste and recycling—which anticipates changes in both production and consumption habits to enable reuse of waste—will not only yield environmental benefits and slow the rapid consumption of natural resources, but also signal additional economic growth potential of 4–5 trillion dollars by 2030. Within the circular economy model, concepts such as "Industrial Symbiosis" and "Waste Exchange", which envision the reuse of waste as secondary raw material and evaluate one facility's waste as another facility's input, have begun to be implemented in Turkey and have taken their place among developments that will contribute to growth potential and new business opportunities.

Recovering waste that is lost through burial in landfill facilities under the linear economic model, reintroducing it to the raw material market under the circular economy model, or using it as an energy source represent the most sustainable methods available when the economic value to be obtained is considered.

Solid waste, as defined in the "Solid Waste Control Regulation" published in the Official Gazette No. 25777 dated 05.04.2005, encompasses "solid matter and treatment sludge that producers wish to discard and that must be disposed of in an orderly manner for public well-being and particularly for environmental protection". According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) data, Turkey reached a population of 79.81 million as of 2016, and this figure is estimated to exceed 80 million in 2019. This rapid population growth and accompanying rapid consumption cause waste generation to increase steadily. According to TÜİK data, Turkey generates approximately 31.5 million tonnes of waste, with an equivalent of 27.13 million tonnes, or 87.18 percent, originating from municipal waste (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Waste Distribution in Turkey (Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, 2016)

In Turkey, among various applications for solid waste such as composting, incineration, and regulated/uncontrolled landfilling, the most widely used method remains disposal in regulated landfill sites. Under the EU Circular Economy package, all EU member states aim to reduce municipal waste landfill rates to 10 percent by 2030 and to recycle 75 percent of packaging waste. These percentages are considered highly difficult targets to achieve under Turkish conditions. According to 2016 data from the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, 86.7 percent of waste in Turkey was disposed of through landfilling. TÜİK 2016 data shows that 44 million tonnes of waste, 6 million tonnes of which is hazardous, were landfilled in 134 regulated landfill facilities across the country. Therefore, the National Waste Management Plan targets the disposal of 35 percent of generated waste through recovery and 65 percent through regulated landfilling by 2023. Given these figures, source separation of solid waste—produced in ever-increasing quantities with growing population—is of paramount importance in reducing the volume of waste sent to final disposal sites.

Studies on the characterization of waste collected in regulated landfill sites show that approximately 25 percent of municipal waste sent to these sites consists of recyclable waste that remains unused when landfilled.

Separate collection at source of this recyclable waste, followed by sorting at waste recycling facilities, will enable valuable raw materials such as paper, cardboard, and plastic to be returned to the system with better quality. Source separation of recyclable waste will help reduce the volume of municipal waste to be disposed of and greenhouse gas emissions from these sites, prevent the landfilling of high-value waste in regulated and uncontrolled sites, and convert losses into economic gains. Within the framework of the "Zero Waste" philosophy adopted with rapid transformation across all national and international platforms in Turkey—particularly in public institutions, private sector, NGOs and similar organizations—increased awareness campaigns to foster responsible and conscious consumption, expanded educational programs on sustainable/integrated waste management and dual collection practices, workshops and meetings, and dissemination of successful examples from developed countries adapted to Turkish conditions represent significant steps taken in this area.

Investment in waste management by both public and private sectors and addressing difficulties in accessing necessary financial resources for domestic technology development remain issues being addressed.

Building technical knowledge base regarding these technologies and training experienced experts and technical personnel in Turkey is of paramount importance. The "Young Professionals Group" recently launched by Boğaziçi University—Turkish National Committee for Solid Waste Research and Control (KAKAD)—in coordination with the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) is a successful example of active efforts to meet technical expertise needs. The aim of this initiative is to establish an effective network among researchers under 35 years of age from various countries, enabling these researchers to conduct activities in their own countries on environmental, sustainability, solid waste and related matters of importance, and to undertake joint projects. "Turkey" has been selected as the centre for the "Young Professionals Group", which will comprise researchers from various countries, particularly from the Balkan, Mediterranean, and Black Sea regions. When all these developments are evaluated, it is evident that Turkey has made significant progress on waste management in recent years, the transition to the "circular economy" model has been effectively initiated across all sectors, and efforts have been accelerated toward achieving environmentally, health, and economically viable waste management targets. Nevertheless, the Report released by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October 2018 indicates that if necessary measures are not taken in the critical next 20 years, the global climate crisis will enter an irreversible process; it points to the necessity for all stakeholders—including government, NGOs, and private sector—to assume even greater and more effective roles in developing and implementing these efforts. With this awareness, and with the hope that we become conscious of the responsibilities incumbent upon us to leave a livable future not only for generations to come but also for ourselves, and that we act without delay... B. Aylin Alagöz Boğaziçi University Turkish National Committee for Solid Waste Research and Control Board Member  

References •Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Solid Waste Control Regulation of Turkey , 05.04.2005 date and the Official Gazette No. 25777 •Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, "National Waste Management and Action Plan", 2016. •https://www.ipcc.ch/ •http://www.skdturkiye.org/blog/dongusel-ekonomiye-gecis-rekabette-one-gecmek-icin-hizli-adaptasyon-sart •http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/ •https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/jobs-growth-and-investment/towards-circular-economy_en#documents •https://www.overshootday.org/