Geographical information systems in solid waste management: a case study for site selection for waste transfer stations in Eskisehir

Today, the results of rapid urbanization and industrialization increase the consumption of natural resources, and vary and increase the amount of wastes resulting from human acitivities. As a result, wastes influence both environmental and human health negatively. The management of wastes, which vary depending on the environmental characteristics, requires the consideration of the conditions of the environment where the wastes are produced. It is quite difficult to realize a sustainable waste management process depending on standardized procedures during processes such as collection, transportation, transfer, recycle and disposal of wastes, due to differing geographical circumstances, social and economical structures, and demographic characteristics. Within this frame, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is a tool that provides accurate and fast results during spatial analysis processes, which require the evaluation of different data within a common platform, and is frequently utilized for waste management. Within this thesis, considering the information gathered by detailed literature and legislation review, the necessary data for suitable lands for waste transfer stations was determined, evaluated and interpreted by the utilization of spatial analysis tools of GIS. As a result, suitable lands for waste transfer stations with differing suitability classes were determined. According to the results, northwest and southwest regions of the study area hosted 1st class suitable lands, while north east and south eastern parts intensively comprised 2nd class sutibale areas. To sum up, in this master thesis the benefits and importance of GIS use for the determination of suitable lands for facilities while protecting the environmental and human health at the same time, is higlighted.