Solid waste management in municipalities: Example of Malatya Municipality

In recent times, rapid urbanization, advances in technology and overconsumption culture resulting from implemented capitalist economic policies have led to an increase in types of solid waste and its quantities to huge size that cannot be ignored. These emerging wastes threat to environment and human health. It is seen that subjects of solid waste management have been generally studied by Applied Sciences and studies have mostly emphasized on the disposal techniques as solution proposal. It is remarkable that there is very few studies under the umbrella of Social Sciences which approach the issues of solid wastes are both as an environmental problem and as a management problem. All kinds of studies which will be carried out by Social Sciences will play a key role by affecting the policies of local administrations which are responsible for solid waste management. In accordance with this purpose; first of all, the concept of local administration, historical process of local governments in the world and in Turkey, current management patterns and contemporary approaches which put local administrations to forefront have been studied. Secondly, the concept of solid waste management in the world and in Turkey has been studied. Later on, solid waste enforcements and its results have been examined at the level of local administrations by means of Malatya Municipality example. In the last section, acquired results and recommendations have been presented.