What are the Solutions to the Rapidly Increasing Garbage Problem?

Environmental problems are increasing and negatively affecting human life. The fact that most people live in cities increases the importance of environmental services of city administrations. The importance and scope of services provided for the environment have increased within urban services. Garbage services, which constitute an important part of environmental services for city administrations, have now become a service that needs to be addressed multi-dimensionally. In terms of public health, the collection, removal, recycling, disposal, storage, etc. of urban waste/garbage are among the basic services expected from city administrations. Since they are part of environmental problems, garbage/waste services are centrally addressed as part of the general environmental policy. The creator and implementer of the central garbage/waste policy at the city level are municipalities. (Önver, 2019)

The fact that garbage is waste is an acceptance that garbage is still usable. In a way, it indicates that it is possible to re-evaluate the garbage that emerged through the production and consumption process. Thus, practices regarding garbage have changed, and garbage has largely become waste. Garbage is pollution, dirt, and something that needs to be eliminated. (Önver, 2019)

According to Makbule Şiriner Önver; It is possible to create a garbage/waste hierarchy by taking into account the garbage/waste management principles. The garbage/waste hierarchy is created by evaluating how the garbage/waste will be handled and which method is more appropriate, the damage it causes to the environment and in accordance with the sustainability approach. According to this hierarchy, there are various methods preferred in garbage/waste management. When these are ranked from the most preferred to the least preferred, the following order emerges;

1. Prevention,

2. Reduction,

3. Reuse,

4. Recycling and composting: Separation and collection of the parts of urban solid garbage/waste that can be used in production and their subsequent reuse as raw materials in production. Composting is the biochemical decomposition of organic garbage/waste by microorganisms.

5. Energy recovery: It is the energy recovery of garbage/waste by burning garbage/waste. As a result of burning, steam energy and 115 electricity are obtained. It also reduces the volume of garbage/waste to one tenth.

6. Disposal: Regular landfill is an essential part of solid waste/garbage management. It is completely different from wild landfill. Hazardous waste/garbage is not accepted to these landfills.

In Turkey, regular storage areas are being built rapidly and waste is being dumped into these irregular storage areas in an uncontrolled manner. However, storing domestic organic waste is a method that is both costly and has environmental effects. However, the dilution water needed for the rottenness and evaluation of these biowastes will be met by regular storage areas that continue to produce waste leachate, resulting in a significant decrease in treatment costs.

In order to reduce organic waste, the consumption of which is increasing day by day due to excessive production, excessive consumption and easy accessibility; consumers should be encouraged to determine their needs before shopping and to purchase planned products in order to save time, money and energy. In addition, with the rule of first in the cupboard, first out, extending the life of the material during use is only possible by boiling these products, jarring them or using them by transforming them into different products. Animal waste can be placed next to organic waste for stray animals that feed on garbage due to excessive chemicals in garbage collection areas and actually help reduce waste at its source. (Kök, 2021)