Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF MATERIAL CYCLES AND WASTE MANAGEMENT, cilt.26, sa.1, ss.2-19, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
The solid waste management (SWM) approach for the protection of resources known as “zero waste” (ZW) has become
popular in recent years. Waste characterization is the frst step to pursuing a comprehensive and sustainable SWM strategy.
The aim of this study is to determine the waste characterization and recycling potential of the Istanbul Technical University
(Türkiye) Ayazağa Campus before (2019) and after (2022) the ZW management strategy. The campus was divided into four
distinctive groups, which are (1) academic (2) administrative (3) dormitory and (4) cafeteria. First, an initial feld study was
conducted afterwards, the new containers were placed. Students and campus personnel have been trained within the scope of
ZW management practices through both in-person and online seminars. The fnal phase of the study, the second feld work,
was completed. The waste generation rate in the pilot areas fuctuates between 0.045 and 0.190 kg/cap/day, but it decreases
to 0.011–0.117 kg/cap/day in the second feld study. The frst feld study had a potential recycling rate of 76.3%, but then it
dropped to 68.2% in the second study. Recycling rate increased from 16.3 to 26.1% over the same period. However, further
studies are still required to assess the ZW’s public awareness activities. Consequently, this study enhances the understanding
of current SWM performance on campus and provides suggestions to achieve the ZW goal.