Disaster waste management should be emphasized to prevent environmental and health risks in earthquake areas after the major earthquakes experienced by our country.
One of the biggest problems in the region after the earthquakes is the removal of the rubble. Considering the number of collapsed buildings and the size of the earthquake area, it is estimated that a total of 50 to 130 million tons of debris could be generated. Studies should be conducted on the disposal of disaster debris and the necessary planning should be done, taking into account the damage to health and the environment.
Different Types of Debris and Excavation Wastes May Occur
In post-earthquake areas, there may be a wide variety of materials such as brick, tile, concrete, iron, wood and plastic as debris. In addition, precautions should be taken in accordance with special waste procedures for wastes that are classified as hazardous materials. Since all the items in the destroyed buildings become waste, different types of waste materials emerge.
Different Risks Related to Waste
It is important to separate the kitchen tube, flammable-explosive materials, harmful blood-contaminated wastes and sewage wastes from the buildings while they are at the wreck site. Depending on the width of the debris fields, in some cases it may not be possible to separate the wastes on-site, and in these cases, it may be possible to sort the wastes piled up in the temporary waste sorting areas.
Wastes thrown into random areas such as forest areas or wetlands pose a problem for the environment and human health. In order to maintain biological diversity and protect wetlands, care should be taken not to harm the environment in the areas where wastes are disposed of.
