Istanbul’s circular design approach to waste management allows the city to produce electricity and compost from different waste streams, as well as divert excess heat to greenhouses for greater productivity.
Istanbul’s Odayeri waste management site is not only large, varied, and capable of processing 12,000 tons of waste per day, but also has a strong focus on environmental protection and tapping the potential resources for new growth. The 266-hectare site is dedicated to many different waste streams including municipal, medical, and organic waste. Landfill sites are isolated from groundwater using natural and geotechnical membranes, and drainage lines exist to collect methane gas produced over time.
There is also a waste-to-energy plant with a capacity of 35 MW – enough to power 130,000 families for a year – which also produces heat as a by-product. Rather than let this go to waste, the heat is captured and sent to a nearby 3,200 m2 greenhouse for increased productivity. The organic waste processing area also produces compost for the greenhouse, which grows 600,000 flowers per month for the city’s parks and gardens.
800,000 tons of CO2 mitigated per year as a result of not burning natural gas for heat
The challenge
Istanbul faces a serious air pollution challenge, with particulate levels consistently above the WHO recommended level. Smart designs for heating and cooling that do not create extra pollution such as the greenhouse project are needed to reduce health risks for citizens.
Co-benefits
Economic By using waste heat from the waste processing site instead of burning natural gas, the greenhouse saves an estimated $130,000 per year.
Environmental Seasonal flowers in Turkey are usually grown in Mediterranean climates. Using excess heat to grow the flowers locally results in logistical and cost savings.
Social The greenhouse attracts around 300 people a month to see the flowers and learn about the circular design approach Odayeri employs to generate resources from waste.
About Istanbul
Istanbul, historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium, is the most populous city in Turkey and the country’s economic, cultural, and historic center. Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia, straddling the Bosphorus strait (which separates Europe and Asia) between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical center lies on the European side and about a third of its population lives on the Asian side. Istanbul is one of the world’s most populous cities and ranks as the world’s 7th-largest city proper and the largest European city.
