Assessment of the current status and integrated waste management at Azadi sports complex in Tehran: a case study

Waste management as an inevitable byproduct is one of the most critical environmental issues in any society. Its management is essential for preventing environmental pollution. The aim of this research is to examine the management of production waste in the Azadi Sports Complex.

This research is a descriptive, cross-sectional, and empirical study that utilizies questionnaires, field visits, weight analysis, sampling, and determination of the physicochemical characteristics of waste. The questionnaire includes questions about the production rate, source reduction, separation, recycling, collection, storage location, transportation outside the complex, and final disposal of waste.

The amount of waste generated from the Azadi Sports Complex was 449.87±4.83kg/day, with the highest waste production observed from the Wrestling Federation (95.37 kg/day) and the lowest from the Kung Fu Federation (12.75 kg/day) and the clinic (12 kg/day). The results of the physicochemical characteristics indicated that the average moisture content was 47%. Combustible materials accounted for 67% with a high calorific value of 12807 kcal/kg, and the ash content was 42%. The dry and wet wastes were collected daily, mixed together, and stored together in an enclosed area.

The results showed that the waste separation, recycling, and storage practices in the Azadi Sports Complex are unsatisfactory. Additionally, there is no existing program for waste reduction at the source or recycling. Therefore, the establishment of a proper waste management system to mitigate the waste volumes in this complex is necessary.