Solid waste management and its applications: The case of Turkey and Sweden

Along with the environmental problems, solid waste is also a serious concern that poses a threat to human survival and contributes to environmental diseases and air pollution. Since environmental degradation is a significant problem, one of the ways to combat environmental degradation is to implement proper solid waste management. Implementing efficient waste management conserves resources, reduces pollution, and promotes a healthier environment. Sustainable solid waste management requires efficient collection systems, effective waste segregation, and recycling programs to reduce landfill waste and prevent waste accumulation in public spaces, ensuring a more sustainable approach. Solid waste generation is directly related to economic activity, as an increase in a country's GDP or per capita consumption expenditure leads to an increase in waste production. This thesis will analyze Turkey's waste management system, focusing on its positive and negative aspects. It will conduct a comparative examination of solid waste management approaches in Ankara and Stockholm, identifying similarities, differences, and potential areas for improvement of Solid waste management systems. The findings of the study reveal that Ankara primarily uses landfilling for waste disposal, while Stockholm employs a comprehensive approach such as recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy technologies. Ankara's waste collection infrastructure is less efficient and accessible compared to Stockholm's well-developed and widely distributed system. Keywords: Solid waste, Environment, Ankara, Stockholm, Sustainable, Efficient