Evaluation of energy potantial and combustibility of municipal solid wastes of Esenler Manucipality in Istanbul

Within the framework of the EU regulations adoptions in our country, waste management legislation has been amended and a policy has been set up to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. In this respect, the disposal of biodegradable wastes on landfills have been introduced and restricted with The Regulation on Landfilling of Wastes. Therefore, the use of mechanical, biological and thermal processes to reduce waste amounts is envisaged. The suitability of combustion of municipal solid wastes (MSWs) generated in Esenler Municipality was investigated by field and laboratory studies within this thesis study. Esenler, a municipality in Istanbul Metropolitan City with a total area of 5.227 hectares, 18 districts and a population of the 57.231 by 2016, can be considered as the center of the city in Istanbul. During the study period, the thermal disposal systems for municipal solid wastes in Esenler have been investigated. In this context, seasonal characterization of municipal solid wastes generated in different districts of Esenler was obtained. The physical and chemical properties of the MSW samples were investigated and bomb calorimetry, TGA and DSC tests were performed for calorific value analysis. The elemental analysis of the samples also provided information on the chemical composition. As a result of these analyzes and evaluations, the appropriateness of direct or indirect combustion of MSWs produced in Esenler Municipality has been assessed. Although the composition and calorific value analysis results of winter and summer samples varied, it has been determined that the average MSW menu is suitable for direct waste combustion.