Waste management and electricity production in Turkey
In Turkey, 50,000 tons of garbage is produced everyday which corresponds to 1,5-2 kgs of garbage per residence on top of industrial and medical wastes.
Like with many developing countries Turkey has to cope with the problem of disposal of such wastes without separate collection which is considered to be a major threat for public health. The administration being aware of this challenge luckily, has attributed great importance to finding new and effective solutions to the issue.
This on the other hand has provided an opportunity thanks to recycling facilities that produce electricity from waste.
It is a fact that methane gas is 21 times more harmful than carbon dioexide in terms of polluting the atmosphere. The re-cycling process makes it possible to convert methane gas into energy and also such plants enable the industry to obtain oxygen from carbon dioxide.
The country which aims to belong to 10 largest economies in the world by 2023, has plans to establish facilities all across the country to achieve a production capacity of 1000 MW of electricity.
Thus, around 40 licenses have been granted to facilities at the stage of establishment, in Turkey.
Facilities already in operation are currently reported to be generating 100 MW and another 100 MW capacity is on the way to be obtained from facilities at the stage of establishment.
When these establishments cooperate with municipalities both the garbage is destroyed in an acceptable way and the municipalities generate additional revenues as well as the fact that additional energy is obtained. In this regard Turkey is ready to extend full support to establishments to evaluate garbage by converting it into energy which is a great necessity for a modern and fast developing Turkey.
It is also noteworthy to know that a facility producing 200 MW would cover the electricity needs of 500,000 residential units.
Among companies operating in this sector ITC Turkey has a processing capacity of 1,500 tons garbage peer day in its Ankara plant. The company provides similar service in its plants in Adana, Konya, Bursa and Antalya.
In its Ankara facility the company converts methane gas to electricity and provides 30 MW of energy. This also helps reduce carbon emission by 500,000 tons annually.
07.05.2013
Editor, BTT
