Heavy metals in compostable wastes: A case study in Gümüş hane, Turkey

This paper presents a general overview of the current municipal solid waste management in Gümüşhane Province, Turkey. In the study conducted between March 2004 and February 2005, the composting parameters (moisture content, total organic carbon, total nitrogen and pH), organic matter content and the heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co) of the green wastes sorted from the mixed municipal solid waste were determined and evaluated. The analytes were determined with a relative standard deviation lower than 6% in all samples. The organic fraction of biological origin made up about 30% of the total amount of the municipal solid waste. Moisture content was 78%, organic matter content was 92.1%, C/N ratio was 21.6/1 and pH was 4.73. Heavy metal concentrations of the green wastes mixed with domestic wastes were found to be higher than the separately collected green wastes. Heavy metal concentrations of the green wastes from the open dump were determined to decrease in the following order: Fe>Mn>Zn>Cr>Cu>Pb>Ni> Cd>Co.