Solid waste management practices and reflections on rural areas in Turkey, Tokat central district example

TOKAT GAZİOSMANPAŞA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF NATURAL & APPLIED SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS THESIS ADVISOR: PROF. DR. Adnan ÇİÇEK This study, which focuses on agriculture-environment relations in rural areas, was carried out in the field of responsibility of Tokat Turhal Zile Pazar Solid Waste Management Association. The results of the survey were evaluated with 105 people in 12 villages of districts in the region. In addition, the results of 68 village headmen questionnaires were included. In the research, the environmental infrastructure, problems and widespread agricultural practices of the villages in the region were evaluated in an integrated manner through the headmen surveys. Through surveys conducted with rural people, their views on environmental issues were evaluated within the context of agricultural-environmental relations. Chi-square analyzes were conducted among the subjects such as age and education level of the people, awareness of the activities of the solid waste union operating in the region, the way of disposing of the solid wastes occurring daily, the way of evaluating the animal and plant wastes, and the perspectives on the practices that may harm the environment during agricultural activities. In the chi-square analysis, it was determined that young and educated people have higher environmental sensitivity and environmental awareness. In addition, it has been tried to put forward what needs to be done for the solid waste union operating in the region to work more effectively.