Waste Characterization Study in ITU Ayazaga Campus
In ITU Ayazaga Campus, plastic, paper and metals, are collected in blue containers, whereas glass are collected in green-white containers. Used oil is collected in green bins located in 2 different locations. All other waste is collected in grey containers.
Waste characterization studies are done in ITU Ayazaga Campus. According to this study, the campus is divided into four basic groups. They are academic buildings, administrative buildings, cafeteria (including dining hall) and residential areas (dormitories and dwelling-house). Laboratories and maintenance buildings are excluded from the study. One building is selected from the each group to determine waste characterization. For one week, the wastes are collected and characterized. Wastes in blue and grey containers are classified for 18 waste component.
18 waste components found in the waste characterization study are grouped under four categories: food waste (which can be referred to as food waste or organic waste in the literature), packaging waste, glass waste and other wastes, considering the current
waste management in the campus and in Istanbul. Accordingly, the food waste is biggest part of the all wastes on the campus, followed by packaging wastes (paper-cardboard wastes are included in this class), other wastes and glass wastes. Hazardous
wastes (laboratory wastes, paint, etc.), and medical wastes are not included in this study. In addition, how much waste is sent to which facility is also calculated in this study.