Waste characterization at mixed municipal solid waste composting and recycling facility units

Abstract

The waste characterization for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Composting and Recycling Facility, which is one of the four composting facilities in Turkey, has been investigated in this study. Main units of the facility include Waste Receiving, O80 mm Trommel Screen, Hand Sorting Unit, Composting Unit and O15 mm Trommel Screen. The changes of waste profile in the units of the facility and its effects on the compost product were determined by monthly for one year period. In addition, the inert content (glass, plastic, metal and textile) of the compost product, which is important for marketing, was determined and certain strategies were proposed for the reduction of these materials. Food waste (49.5%) was the biggest percentage in the incoming mixed municipal solid waste. The other main constituents were paper-cardboard (16.4%), plastic bag (8.3%), diaper (5.1%), textile (4.6%), glass (3.5%), and plastic (2.7%). The maximum percentage of the components for the O80 mm undersize material, which goes in...