Launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change under the patronage of Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Zero Waste Project is implemented as a holistic management model that converts waste into economic value, increases resource efficiency and strengthens environmental sustainability.
While the project aims to reduce waste generation, separate it at the source, increase recovery rates and use natural resources more efficiently, many practices in this direction are being implemented throughout Türkiye.
In this context, Kızılcahamam District in Ankara was identified as a pilot district for zero waste practices in 2019. While a collection system for recyclable waste has been created across the district, a waste collection center has been established.
With the waste collected, points are credited to the cards
District residents can drop off their trash at the Zero Waste Garden, Zero Waste Bus and deposit return locations. Thanks to the Zero Waste Collection Card, which every household receives, the citizen cards are loaded with points based on the amount of waste collected. These points can be used instead of money at contract markets in the district.
The Zero Waste Garden created in the district consists of 5 sections. In addition to the waste compartment, where waste is stored and deposited, there is a recycling workshop where teachers and students create design products from recycled materials.
The garden also includes a zero-waste playground for children, a zero-waste store with books and toys on a barter system, and a zero-waste cafeteria.
“A reduction in the amount of household waste by 20 percent was achieved”
Ekrem Yıldırım, Head of the Zero Waste Practices Department of the General Directorate of Environmental Management of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, made statements on zero waste practices in Kızılcahamam.
Stating that Kızılcahamam has become one of the important centers where good practices are implemented by being selected as a pilot district within the zero waste mobilization, Yıldırım said that the zero waste system in the district has been expanded through the works carried out since 2019.
Regarding the system's contributions to the district, Yıldırım said: “Thanks to the application, a 20 percent reduction in the amount of household waste will be achieved, while an average of 100 tons of recyclable waste will be brought into the economy per month. Within the scope of the applications, jobs for 25 people have been created.”
Stating that innovative practices such as “Waste Bus”, “Zero Waste Card System”, “Waste-Free Housing Project” and a neighborhood-based incentive model have been implemented in Kızılcahamam, Yıldırım also explained that sustainable consumption habits are supported through packaging-free outlets, a zero-waste library and recycling-themed social areas.
Stating that the zero waste garden, which received a good practice award, serves as an integrated center with a waste collection point, a recycling workshop and a deposit return system, Yıldırım is visited by more than 200 people on average every day, Yıldırım said:
“As part of the deposit return system established in collaboration with the Turkish Environment Agency, more than 2.5 million packaging wastes have been recycled and over 600,000 liras have been paid out to citizens to date. In addition, digitalization in municipal services has reduced paper consumption, favored sustainable alternatives over single-use products, and significant progress has been made through water saving practices. The solar power plant built as part of investments in renewable energy has made both economic and environmental contributions.”
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