TÜRKİYE’DE KATI ATIKLARDA BİYOLOJİK İŞLEMLER KONUSUNDAKİ DENEYİMLER, DURUM VE GELİŞMELER

In the years 1968-69, the first dense composting facility was established in the Izmir’s

suburbs, Cigli and Halkapinar. The DANO-Biostabilization method was in these years also

applied successfully in Germany and Denmark. Two facilities with a total capacity of 150

tonnes per year were established. As they were operated in the beginning with a 2- day idle

cycle, the biochemical hygienization was complete. However, because of increasing waste

amounts and the decrease in efficiency, the facilities could not meet the demand anymore.

The obtained compost products were used in vineyards, olive groves, citrus and cotton fields

and also in recreational areas. Due to the presence of ammonia, plants in the fields

deteriorated. After the process developed and matured, products were offered in the market as

fertilizers. But this time problems caused by the presence of boron surfaced. The Agricultural

Research Institute in Menemen conducted research to investigate the effects of the compost

with respect to physical, chemical and biological properties, and also with respect to factors

that affect agricultural production efficiency. It was attempted to decrease the boron and

heavy metal content of the compost below the compliance limits that are required in

Germany. Consequently, process and raw material flow were taken under more stringent

control.

As the city expanded with time, the composting facilities in Cigli and Halkapinar became

facilities within city boundaries, one nearby a school and hospital, and the other near a water

reservoir, which was unacceptable. Therefore, in 1988-89 a new facility in Uzundere that was

operated using the Uzwil-Bühler method was established. However, it never operated with the

designed capacity of 500

tonnes/year. There were other operational problems: the aeration channels were clogged; as it

was an uncovered facility, the material batches were too dry in the summer, and too moist in

the winter. The air that was sucked from the first 6 batches and conveyed to the biofilter, was

treated in the beginning years. However, later due to the aggressive nature of gaseous and

aqueous degradation products

metal components of the system corroded. The recycling, collection and treatment of leaching

water was hindered. This example confirmed that facility operators who are knowledgeable

are needed. The training of personnel to prevent and solve operational problems at the facility

is important. With time, the municipality personnel viewed these facilities as “exile

locations”, thereby resulting in poor managed and operated facilities. As a consequence,

privatization followed and the perspective to these operations changed.

Entrepreneurs, who were mainly engineers and architects, became interested in developing the

DANO-biostabilization technology in Turkey. Since the 1980’s, they have established

facilities with less than 100 tonnes/year. The biggest problem was supply of building

materials as it was the case in Marmaris, Antalya, Turgutlu, Usak, Edirne and Giresun.

Furthermore, the sheet metal of the DANO drum that was exposed to the corrosive

degradation products did not last for too long, and perforated after a few years of operation.

The operations of these facilities either paused for long times or ceased completely.

In 1973, a French box system was established in Mersin. The facility was decomissioned after

10 years of operation. In touristic regions like Kemer-Antalya, brikolare systems began

operating. In the touristic facilities of Ortaca-Sarigerme, the bio-organic and green wastes of

the hotel were composted in aerated batches that were exposed to the open air. Because of

odor and insect complaints and

problems related to the process, the operation was changed to “anaerobic+aerobic” biological

combination process. The modifications are still in progress.

Since the 1970’s agro-industrial activities like poultry have increased in the Izmir- Manisa

region. Poultry wastes became a problem. To solve this problem, Turkey’s largest poultry

industry, Keskinoglu Tavukculuk, Inc. established two composting facilities in Akhisar with

200 + 60 tonnes/year capacity in 2004 and 2005, respectively. The process constitutes of

obtaining mature compost in covered areas, homogenization, pelletised, and selling the

product in 5 and 25 kg packages.

Farmers working in vineyards and other areas state that the application of the compost

products resulted successfully (http://www.organica.com.tr)

Solid waste plants were also part of the GAP region project. Furthermore, in Istanbul the

composting facility in Kemerburgaz-Kısırmandıra village is planned to process 1000 tonnes

of solid wastes per day to produce 250 tonnes of compost product. It is established over a 32

hectare area. The facility was initiated in July 2002 and its product is applied in Istanbul’s

parks recreational areas.

Composting plant are developed or are in the planning stage for Bursa and other cities in

Anatolia as well. At a facility in Denizli, reusable “dry wastes” and compostable “moist

wastes” are recycled as compost product.

It is noteworthy that the Australian firm, who established the plant in Istanbul, presented it at

the ASA February 2006 meeting in Hannover not as a “composting facility”, but as a

“mechanical-biological processes” plant. The definition and perspective in countries like

Germany, Austria and Switzerland changed because of the developments in the last 10 years.

The number of “aerobic” and “anaerobic+aerobic” processing plants that are decentralized

and process only green and bio-organic wastes has increased. Furthermore, stringent control

and homogenization of raw material input resulted in a quality product that is sustainable.

Plants operating in this manner were transformed from “composting plants” into

“methanization+composting” plants; from “KAY=BRAM=RDF+composting plant” to

“KAY=BRAM=RDF + methanization + composting plant” combinations. This way the

concept of mechanical-biological processing was introduced.

Alten (2005) and Ürüt (2004) demonstrated with their thesis work that compost quality can be

guaranteed if the raw material is controlled and defined well from the very beginning.

It is beneficial to adapt to the recent changes in Turkey and to take advantage of the gained

experiences, considering at the same time the country’s ecological and socio-economic

conditions. Our soils are susceptible to erosion, and the deficit in organic material is very

significant. The soil properties constantly change, and clay, silt and sand material becomes

more mobile. There is no chelatised, but deterioration of structure. It cannot withstand the

drifting force of water and wind. As on the 10th anniversary of our republic we accomplished

and succeeded to develop the railroad system to provide transportation to everywhere,

similarly we must also protect our fertile soils by providing them with bio-organic and gren

wasted using “simple composting” or the more advanced “RDF+methanization+composting”

technology.