Turkey's Zero Waste Program Can Recycle 24.2 Million Tons Of Waste, Save The Environment, Open Jobs

Strictly enforced recycling program campaign in Turkey. (Source: zerowaste.gov.tr)

JAKARTA - Turkish authorities announced that they have succeeded in reducing the waste that is thrown into the environment, in line with the 'Zero Waste' initiative launched by First Lady Emine Erdoan in 2017.

Minister of Environment and Urban Planning Murat Kurum announced that the country recycles about 24.2 million tonnes of paper, plastic, glass and organic waste, returning it to the economy.

Quoting Daily Sabah September 12, in an interview Kurum said 16.5 million tons of paper, 4.1 million tons of plastic, 1.7 million tons of glass, 0.4 million tons of metal and 1.5 million tons of organic waste were recycled by various industries. facilities licensed by the ministry.

The Zero Waste project aims to increase Turkey's recycling rate to 35 percent by 2023, while creating jobs for around 100,000 people in the recycling industry, saving up to US$2.3 billion annually. Interestingly, this program is also in demand by the private sector in Turkey.

"From public sector agencies to municipalities and industrialists, many people and institutions supported this project and quickly adopted it. We established a calendar of applications with the new regulations, and since last year, issued zero waste certificates for those who switch to this recycling model," Kurum explained.

Plastic waste collection to support the Zero Waste program in Turkey. (Source: zerowaste.gov.tr)

To support this program, the government has provided training to 12.5 million people on zero-waste practices so far. Meanwhile, some 100,000 public institutions, as well as several municipalities, have switched to zero waste policies, ranging from cutting waste to properly sorting it at the source for recycling purposes.

Turkey uses about 10 million tons of glass, plastic, aluminum and metal packaging every year. The Zero Waste program is seen as a tool to lower these numbers, especially when fighting climate change.

To note, this Zero Waste program aims to promote the efficient use of the planet's limited resources, which aims to curb and even eliminate waste by separating it from the source for recycling.

The program was first launched at the Beştepe Presidential Complex and took effect in various government ministries during 2017, then spread to cities and a number of private companies and certain public institutions, including schools to hospitals.