The Zero-Waste approach is an environmental movement that works to leave future generations a clean and developed Turkey and a livable world, and to protect our raw material resources and energy savings within the principles of sustainable development by avoiding and reducing the generation of waste, preventing waste, and collecting and recycling it separately at the source.
The By-Law on Zero Waste, which aims to introduce, implement and disseminate the waste prevention approach throughout the country by establishing the general principles and application principles for the establishment of the “Zero Waste Management System” under the Zero Waste Project, entered into force upon publication in the Official Gazette on 12/07/2019 under number 30829.
Starting January 12, 2020, the Zero Waste Certificate will be awarded to local governments that have implemented a Zero Waste Management System. A Basic Level Zero Waste certificates were awarded to the residential areas of 53 municipalities.
GRAPH 92- NUMBER OF MUNICIPALITIES AWARDED WITH CERTIFICATION FOR THEIR SERVICE AREAS OVER THE YEARS
Source: The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, General Directorate of Environmental Management,2021
The Zero Waste project introduced practices that were adopted by all areas. In the period from June 2017, when implementation began, to 2021, work has begun to implement a zero waste management system in 130,000 institutional/organizational buildings across Turkey, particularly in the Presidential Complex, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and the Provincial Directorates of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change in 81 provinces. By 2021, the number of buildings and facilities for which documents have been issued has reached 75,000.
GRAPH 93- NUMBER OF BUILDINGS ADOPTED THE ZERO WASTE SYSTEM OVER THE YEARS
Source: The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, General Directorate of Environmental Management,2021
GRAPH 94- NUMBER OF CERTIFIED BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES BY YEAR
Source: The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, General Directorate of Environmental Management,2021
In 2020, 4 million tons of paper, 1.1 million tons of plastic, 470,000 tons of glass, 75,000 tons of metal, 280,000 tons of wood, 80,000 tons of textiles, 18,000 tons of waste vegetable oil, 19,000 tons of electrical and electronic equipment, and 1.2 million tons of organic and mixed recyclable waste were collected separately at source and recycled. In 2020, 7.2 million tons of waste were recycled, and the recycling rate, which was 19% in 2019, was increased to 22.4% in 2020, and the target is to increase this rate to 35% by 2023.
GRAPH 95- RECYCLING RATES BY YEARS
Source: The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, General Directorate of Environmental Management,2021
In 2018, a Zero Waste Information System was established to collect data, create an inventory, monitor work performed, generate reports, and conduct the Zero Waste documentation process. The users of the Zero Waste Information System are local governments, public institutions, educational institutions, health institutions, tourism institutions, ports, terminals, airports, gas stations, market chains, business centers, and tradesmen. The number of registered users of the Zero Waste Information System has reached 140,000. 14,000,000 people have been trained in waste prevention to date.
GRAPH 96- NUMBER OF PERSONS TRAINED BY YEARS
Source: The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, General Directorate of Environmental Management,2021
