Landfilling with mixed wastes: Environmental effects of wastes and their management in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey

Adding mixed waste to coastal landfill areas is common in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. The area studied in this paper covers the coastal cities of Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, and Rize. All these cities have gained extensive landfill areas from the shores just in front of them. Residential waste and rubble has been infilled along the shores of the cities for a distance of similar to 30-50 m from the sea side since the 1970s. This now supports a double lane road construction that follows the shore line. Both actions have caused damage to sea shore ecology. The consequences of using mixed waste in landfill is discussed under the following headings: health impacts of wastes (scavenging sea gulls may carry infectious diseases); composition and chemical properties of wastes; visual and environmental impact; lack of integration with development plans for the re-use of filled lands; dumping techniques. This paper was prepared by analysis of maps, visual and photographic analysis, site investigations and evaluation of municipal records from the region.