Abstract
This paper provides a general overview of solid waste data and management practices employed in Turkey during the last decade.
Municipal solid waste statistics and management practices including waste recovery and recycling initiatives have been evaluated.
Detailed data on solid waste management practices including collection, recovery and disposal, together with the results of cost
analyses, have been presented. Based on these evaluations basic cost estimations on collection and sorting of recyclable solid waste
in Turkey have been provided. The results indicate that the household solid waste generation in Turkey, per capita, is around 0.6
kg/year, whereas municipal solid waste generation is close to 1 kg/year. The major constituents of municipal solid waste are organic
in nature and approximately 1/4 of municipal solid waste is recyclable. Separate collection programmes for recyclable household
waste by more than 60 municipalities, continuing in excess of 3 years, demonstrate solid evidence for public acceptance and
continuing support from the citizens. Opinion polls indicate that more than 80% of the population in the project regions is ready
and willing to participate in separate collection programmes. The analysis of output data of the Material Recovery Facilities shows
that, although paper, including cardboard, is the main constituent, the composition of recyclable waste varies strongly by the source
or the type of collection point.
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2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.