TRKYEDE KATI ATIKLARDA BYOLOJK LEMLER KONUSUNDAK DENEYMLER, DURUM VE GELMELER

In the years 1968-69, the first dense composting facility was established in the Izmirs 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-Bhler 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 1980s, 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 1970s agro-industrial activities like poultry have increased in the Izmir- Manisa region. Poultry wastes became a problem. To solve this problem, Turkeys 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-Ksrmandra 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 Istanbuls 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 rt (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 countrys 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.