The impact of neoliberal economic policies on solid waste management: Eskisehir Tepebasi Municipality examples

This study aims to investigate the historical development of solid waste and solid waste management, with a focus on the impact of economic policies, particularly neoliberal economic policies, and their reflection on Eskişehir and Tepebaşı. Throughout the 20th century, the environmental and social impacts of solid waste have led to the emergence of environmental movements and the strengthening of environmental policies by governments. The study emphasizes that, since the late 1980s, solid waste management in many states has been significantly influenced by neoliberal economic policies for legal reasons, transforming solid waste management—a service traditionally provided by municipalities—into an investment area for capital. Turkey is one of the states where the influence of capital dominance in solid waste management is evident. In this context, the study examines the solid waste management of Eskişehir province and its district Tepebaşı in Turkey. Using qualitative research methods, in-depth interviews were conducted with personnel responsible for solid waste management in Eskişehir and Tepebaşı through purposive sampling. The findings indicate that Eskişehir and Tepebaşı transfer their solid waste management processes to the private sector through legal agreements to generate profit, while municipalities predominantly handle the bureaucratic aspects of these processes. Moreover, it has been determined that international organizations representing neoliberal economic policies, such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, play a significant role in the privatization of solid waste management processes in Eskişehir and Tepebaşı.