## 7 Conclusions  
Following the deadliest earthquakes in its recent history, Turkey must dispose of hundreds of millions of tonnes of collapse and demolition debris, which is considered the largest of all disasters induced by natural hazards since the 1994 Northridge earthquake, a period for which qualitative and quantitative characteristics of earthquake-induced debris are available. The presence of hazardous materials in this debris made its management a challenge for the agencies involved in managing the impact of the disaster and the need for large debris disposal sites was immediate and imperative. The present study provided debris management details acquired during post-event field surveys conducted by the authors in the earthquake-affected area. During these field surveys, several debris disposal sites were detected near major urban centers, such as in Antakya and Samandag in the southern part, Nurdagi and Kahramanmaras in the central part and Golbasi and Adiyaman in the northern and northeastern part of the earthquake affected area respectively, whose common feature was extensive building collapses. Based on observations on the properties of the sites and their surrounding areas as well as on the debris management activities obtained in situ and using satellite imagery, it is concluded that the vast majority of the analyzed sites had characteristics that did not allow them to be classified as properly selected and safe sites for treatment and disposal of earthquake debris. Thus, the management of debris on these sites comprises hazards with a high potential to cause adverse effects on the safety of public health and the balance of the natural environment. The inadequacy of these disposal sites is attributed to several reasons, the most important of which is the proximity to (Table 3):  
* residential areas, for example in settlements and towns where a large part of the population lived and worked,
* earthquake camps with thousands of earthquake-affected people temporarily accommodated in container-type structures and tents,
* university campuses where educational staff and students lived, and
* large and small industrial areas where many people work. As regards the natural environment, these sites were operating within or close to surface water bodies with a high potential for contamination not only of the surface water but also the groundwater systems, with probable subsequent impacts on natural ecosystems and the local population. Most of them are located at a short distance from (Table 3): \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Debris Disposal Sites Properties** & **Samandag** & **Antakya** & **Karaburglu** & **Gölbasi** &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Kahraman** \\ **Maras** \\ \end{tabular} & **Adiyaman** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Location of disposal site close to \(\dots\)} & residential areas & ✓ & ✓ & ✓ & ✓ & ✓ \\  & relief camps & ✓ & ✗ & ✗ & ✓ & ✓ \\  & industrial areas & ✗ & ✓ & ✗ & ✓ & ✓ \\  & water bodies & ✓ & ✓ & ✗ & ✓ & ✗ \\  & agricultural land & ✗ & ✗ & ✓ & ✗ & ✓ \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Measures against adverse effects} & Wetting within the site & ✗ & ✗ & ✗ & ✓ & ✗ \\  & Wetting along the road & & ✗ & ✗ & ✗ & ✓ & ✓ \\ \cline{1-1}  & leading to the site & & & & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: Disadvantages of earthquake debris disposal sites in terms of location and proximity to residential areas and vulnerable elements of the natural environment and application of measures for preventing the formation of dust clouds during debris management based on the presented field data. * perennial and intermittent streams,
* lakes and takefront areas,
* marshy areas located in coastal areas, and
* the sea. From field observations in the disposal sites, it was found that, apart from a few exceptions, the majority of workers and volunteers involved in debris management at collapse, demolition, and disposal sites did not apply the prescribed protection measures against hazardous materials. Few wore dust masks and even fewer wore disposable or replacement clothing.