Edirne Solid Waste Management: Stan2 Material Flow Modelling

The success of waste management has become one of the most important parameters showing the development of a city. Revealing and evaluating the resource value contained in waste is a component of the circular economy concept. In this study, waste management of Edirne, a geopolitically important city in Türkiye, is discussed in detail. Municipal waste produced in Edirne is collected and processed by three different solid waste management associations (Edikab, Orekab and Günekab). In this study, the process from collection to disposal of waste produced in the city was modelled by using the Stan software. Wastes other than dry recyclables in the city are disposed of in landfill sites belonging to these associations. In landfill sites of Edikab and Günekab, electricity is generated from methane gas. In addition, in the city where waste is collected commingled, recycling is carried out by mechanical separation units located in the facilities of these associations. Model results show that the amount of registered and unregistered waste was approximately 138,000 tonnes per annum (133,392 tonnes in 2023, 135,792 tonnes in 2022, and 145,104 tonnes in 2021). Approximately 39% of the waste produced in Edirne was recycled and brought into the economy (40% in 2023, 38% in 2022, and 39% in 2021). Of this recovery, around 10% is attributable to waste pickers, while 32–33% is achieved through mechanical separation processes at treatment facilities.