OPTIMIZATION OF EXISTING SOLID WASTE LANDFILL SITES USING GIS AND MCDA: THE CASE OF GIRESUN, TURKEY

Rapid population growth, industrial development and urbanization in developing countries such as Turkey have brought with them the problem of urban solid waste. In a world where natural resources are being depleted rapidly and environmental destruction is increasing along with the daily rise in global warming and pollution of water resources, solid waste must be stored or disposed of more effectively. Appropriate site selection for solid waste disposal involves many environmental, economic and socio-political factors and is one of the biggest problems in waste management. In the process of collection, transportation and storage of urban solid wastes, and especially in the selection of landfill sites, spatial/map-based models are being used effectively. This study was carried out using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in the selection of a solid waste landfill site. The study evaluated the suitability of the solid waste storage site in Cavuslu/Giresun. The negative environmental effects were widely discussed in addition to the topic having raised concern among the local population. Consequently, nine criteria related to the selection of landfill sites were examined: geology, distance from rivers, lakes and dams (m), slope (degrees), land use/landcover, soil quality, distance from roads (m), sensitive and protected areas, distance from a fault line and population (km(2)). Each criterion was weighted using AHP and mapped via GIS and conformity analyses were performed. As a result, it was determined that the 90,000 m(2) Cavuslu/Giresun solid waste landfill site, still in active use, was at an average level of suitability.