Hacettepe University Environmental Engineering Department

The circular economy is an approach that aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible, reevaluate materials and products at the end of their lifecycle, and minimize waste generation. This model supports sustainable production and consumption practices aligned with the goals of conserving natural resources and reducing environmental impacts. Bioeconomy, on the other hand, focuses on the innovative and sustainable utilization of biological resources, integrating bio-based processes into the economy in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture. The synergy between circular economy and bioeconomy creates economic value through the recovery and reprocessing of waste, while simultaneously reducing environmental harm and contributing to sustainable development goals. Applications such as recovering valuable metals, biopolymers, and energy resources from waste form the core components of the circular bioeconomy.

At Hacettepe University, innovative research is conducted on recovering valuable resources from waste. This includes studies on the recovery of valuable metals and biopolymers from waste, as well as increasing the economic value of construction demolition waste through microbial processes. By understanding and applying processes such as biogranulation, biohydrometallurgy, bioprecipitation, and bioaccumulation, we promote the reuse of waste within a circular bio-based economy.

Our department also focuses on utilizing industrial waste, one of the key requirements of sustainable technologies. We investigate the potential of industrial solid wastes, such as metallurgical waste, to serve as raw materials for the production of various products and develop necessary processes for their direct use in composite material production. This contributes to the recovery of valuable components from waste, reduces environmental impacts, and promotes more efficient resource utilization.

Additionally, we conduct need analyses to transition from high-polluting vehicles to environmentally friendly, next-generation vehicles. These studies identify financial incentive mechanisms, assess the health effects of air pollution under current and improved fleet scenarios, and calculate the reduction in health costs associated with improved air quality.

As a department, we also implement pilot-scale projects to guide local governments in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of zero-waste practices in Turkey. Moreover, we contribute to aligning national waste management regulations with European Union directives through legislative development efforts.

To support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, we evaluate waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies within the framework of the circular economy, considering environmental, economic, technical, and social dimensions. Our research paves the way for future studies, offering innovative solutions for sustainable development.