Primary prevention of waste generation, reduction of waste at source, waste recycling, energy recovery, and finally directing waste to disposal methods are general principles of waste management. Waste production volumes are pressure, their collection, disposal and recycling are response indicators.

Our Ministry has prepared the National Action Plan for Waste Management (NAPWM) (2016-2023), which has the task of establishing a policy and strategy for minimizing waste at source and its classification, collection, transportation, temporary storage, recycling, disposal, reuse, processing, conversion into energy and final disposal processes. The plan was created based on the principle of sustainability and takes into account international standards and national priorities to create a healthy and sustainable environment for present and future generations through the protection and development of our natural resources and ecosystems. The National Action Plan for Waste Management (2016-2023) was published in 2017. The aim of the publication of the plan is to reduce and limit the amount of waste sent to landfills as part of the circular economy and to set the targets for waste recovery, recycling, and energy generation needed to achieve the goals of an integrated waste management system in all 81 provinces.

According to the National Action Plan for Waste Management, percent 35 of waste generated should be recycled and percent 65 landfilled by 2023.

For the period 2023-2035, studies have been initiated to revise the NAPWM to harmonize existing management plans with the Zero Waste Management Plan, increase and expand the efficiency of source-separated collection, and identify recovery and disposal methods.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, this figure is currently percent 22.4 in Turkey^[52].

The average per capita generation of municipal waste in the EU-28 countries was 488 kg, while in our country it was 424 kg, according to 2018 EUROSTAT data^[53].

The recycling rate for municipal waste averaged percent 48 in the EU-28 countries in 2019^[54].

GRAPH 81- AMOUNT OF MUNICIPAL WASTE COLLECTED AND RATE OF SANITARY LANDFILLING BY YEARS

Source: TURKSTAT, “Waste Statistics Bulletin, 2020”