Hazardous Wastes

Hazardous waste refers to substances that threaten environmental sustainability and can seriously affect human health. The management of these wastes, which originate from industrial, agricultural, medical, and daily life activities, poses a significant challenge, particularly in developing countries. In Türkiye, industrialization and increasing population have made it more difficult to prevent the environmental impacts of such waste. Improper waste management can cause lasting damage to land and sea ecosystems and threaten the food chain. These risks are critically important from the perspective of global environment and people health.

Alarm on Hazardous Waste in the Seas

Chemical pollution in the seas constitutes a major threat not only to only ecosystem but also to human life. Türkiye’s seas have been contaminated with chemical substances due to industrialization, population growth, and the wrong use of agricultural pesticides. Heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial wastes entering the seas negatively affect marine life and ecosystem balance. The effects of chemical pollution on marine life can lead to species none, thereby threatening public health through the food chain.

Sustainable Waste Management

Sustainable management practices focus on reducing hazardous waste generation, promoting recycling, and encouraging green technologies. Türkiye is striving to align with circular economy principles within its evolving waste management framework. This involves minimizing waste through efficient resource use, material recovery, and integrating waste-to-energy solutions. Financial and institutional support for these practices remains highly important, especially as they aim to reduce the environmental impact of country industrial processes.

Economic Impacts of Hazardous Waste

Inadequate hazardous waste management leads to significant economic consequences. Costs associated with cleaning up pollution, protecting environmental health, and losses in tourism and fisheries due to water contamination can be substantial. Moreover, proper hazardous waste management can generate economic opportunities in recycling, waste treatment, and green technology sectors, providing benefits to both public and the private sector. Aligning economic incentives with environmental regulations can encourage industries to adopt cleaner technologies and reduce their ecological foot footprint.

Types of Hazardous Waste

Hazardous wastes are classified into different categories based on their composition and properties. The main types of hazardous waste are:

· Chemical Wastes: Contain organic and inorganic chemical substances. They may originate from various industrial processes, agricultural pesticides, and petrochemical products.

· Biological Wastes: Wastes that carry biological hazards, including bacteria, viruses, pathogenic organisms, and materials produced by genetic engineering like. The healthcare sector, biotechnology, and agriculture are the primary sources of such wastes.

· Radioactive Wastes: Wastes generated from Nuclear energy production, medical applications, and certain industry processes. These wastes, which are highly hazardous, can persist in the environment for very long periods and pose long-term damage.

· Physical and Other Wastes: Wastes containing physical hazards such as explosives, corrosives, and flammable materials. These types of waste typically originate from military and engineering activities.

Environmental and Health Risks

The release of hazardous waste into the environment disrupts ecological balance and causes irreversible effects on human health. The contamination of water sources by chemical wastes poses a major threat to drinking water supplies. Additionally, when these substances enter marine ecosystems, they damage underwater flora and fauna.

Toxic chemicals accumulate biologically in fish and other marine organisms, adversely affecting the food chain. The impacts on human health are broad-ranging and may include long-term health problems such as cancer, respiratory diseases, neurological disorders, and genetic changes. Local populations directly exposed to these wastes are the most affected group.

Regulations and Legal Framework

The management of hazardous waste is regulated by strict legal frameworks at both national and international levels. Türkiye has established waste management and hazardous waste control measures through Law No. 2872 on the Environment and its associated regulations. Internationally, the Basel Convention, which regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, provides a global frame for their management.

The Basel Convention is an agreement that governs the international transportation and disposal of hazardous waste. Adopted in 1989 in Basel, Switzerland, the convention aims to prevent the illegal transfer of hazardous waste to developing countries. It defines the necessary regulations and obligations for the safe management of hazardous waste. Türkiye is a side to the Basel Convention and implements measures to ensure the safe management of waste in accordance with its provisions.

(Source: Bigumigu)

Strategies for Hazardous Waste Management

Effective management of hazardous waste requires multiple strategy and practices to minimize environmental and health risks. These strategies are generally grouped under three main categories:

· Waste Reduction at Source:

Preventing the generation of hazardous waste is recognized as the most effective strategy. This strategy is based on reducing the use of hazardous chemicals in industrial production processes and favoring more environmentally friendly alternatives.

· Recycling and Reuse:

Some hazardous wastes can be recycled or reused through appropriate treatment processes. Metals and certain chemical wastes, for example, can be reprocessed to achieve economic value.

· Disposal and Destruction: Safe disposal and destruction of waste are among the most critical stages of management. This process ensures that wastes are eliminated without harming the environment, using specialized technologies.

Case Studies and Examples

Improper management of hazardous waste has led to numerous environmental disasters worldwide. For example, the chemical waste crisis in the Love Canal area of USA in 1987 directly threatened public health and permanently altered life in the region. Similar cases in Türkiye, particularly concerning chemical pollution in the seas, have heightened concerns. Mysterious barrels washing ashore and chemical leaks have sparked significant environmental and legal debates. Such incidents once again highlight the critical importance of proper waste management.

The Future of Hazardous Waste Management

In the future, hazardous waste management is expected to become more sustainable and effective. In line with circular economy principles, reducing waste at the source, promoting recycling, and ensuring safe disposal will remain priorities. Moreover, the treatment of hazardous waste through green technologies and innovative methods will provide environmentally sensitive solutions. Stronger global cooperation and international regulations will play a vital role in mitigating the impacts of hazardous waste.