Needs Assessment Meeting Held on the Revision of the Zero Waste Regulation, Management Action Plan and Zero Waste Guide.

The Needs Assessment Meeting on the Revision of the Zero Waste Regulation, Management Action Plan and Zero Waste Guide was held in Ankara by the Directorate General of Environmental Management of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. The meeting, at which needs were discussed in order to measure progress, understand challenges and further improve the project within the scope of the Zero Waste Regulation and the Zero Waste Project, was attended on behalf of TÜROB by Levent Ertuğrul, Technical Manager of Ankara HiltonSA, and Environmental Consultant Oğuzhan Akınç.

Meeting Notes

SWOT Analysis of the Zero Waste Management System

STRENGTHS

The fact that the Zero Waste Management System in Türkiye has been placed under the patronage of the highest levels of government and has been embraced and supported by all public authorities; that the Regulation permits different methods of implementation, allowing the system to be tailored to different cities and regions
The fact that visual and written materials for awareness-raising and training have been prepared and are easily accessible, that the relevant personnel possess knowledge and experience, and that employment has been created in this field
The fact that zero waste management plans have been prepared for all 81 provinces of our country

WEAKNESSES

The occurrence of problems that arise during application to the Zero Waste Information System and that are difficult to monitor
The inability to apply penal sanctions, the fact that institutions/organisations subject to the system have still not transitioned to it, and the fact that the penalties lack a deterrent effect
The difficulty of changing consumption habits, which makes the reduction of waste more difficult

THREATS

The mistaken perception that the Zero Waste system consists solely of the separate collection of packaging waste at source
The lack of plans for reduction and prevention, and the failure to set targets
The lack of continuity in the system due to the fact that the company contracted by the municipality does not satisfy the collectors in terms of cost
The fact that the perspective of municipal administrators towards the system has not changed, that waste collection is viewed as an item that must turn a profit, and that the approach of collecting residual waste every day for fear of public backlash is seen as an obstacle to the expansion of separate collection models

OPPORTUNITIES

Just as the wastewater charge is an item the public has come to accept, the possibility of charging the public for waste collection by explaining it to them
The support of cooperation with City Councils through the regulation

Improvement Proposals for Increasing the Collection Efficiency of Recoverable Waste

WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

Preventing the manufacture of easily breakable, easily damaged parts in EEE, facilitating the cost and delivery of spare parts, and imposing sanctions on companies that fail to do so
Eliminating the requirement that fixed assets leaving public institutions be handed over to the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation when they become waste.

WASTE BATTERIES AND ACCUMULATORS

Establishing a more effective deposit system for waste batteries and accumulators
Monitoring, within a period to be determined, whether those who place collection boxes for battery waste and obtain a basic certificate in the Zero Waste Information System are actually accumulating the waste

BIODEGRADABLE/FOOD WASTE

Implementing Zero Waste kitchen practices and training in restaurants and hotels

WASTE VEGETABLE OILS

Granting full collection authority to municipalities with regard to efforts to collect waste vegetable oils
Increasing incentives for the separate collection of waste vegetable oils

Improvement Proposals for the Zero Waste Management System

PROPOSALS FOR REDUCTION AND REUSE MEASURES

Eliminating the use of secondary packaging in cosmetic and personal care products
Giving priority to restricting the sale and consumption of single-use plastics at mass events such as concerts and sporting competitions
Providing repair and maintenance/servicing training in vocational high schools and in the vocational high schools located within Organised Industrial Zones (OIZs)
Creating a waste exchange in which public institutions and private enterprises can participate, and supporting it technologically

ZERO WASTE CERTIFICATION PROCESSES AND FOLLOW-UP AFTER CERTIFICATION

Including parameters such as geographical conditions and population density in the zero waste certification processes
Issuing the certificate to any enterprise applying to the Zero Waste Information System following an on-site inspection
Cancelling the certificate if, after the zero waste certificate has been issued, information on collected waste is not entered
Simplifying the criteria set for municipalities in the process of obtaining the Zero Waste Certificate
Sharing with local administrations the information on companies that have been issued a zero waste certificate within the boundaries of the local administration
Establishing Climate Change and Zero Waste Branch Directorates, as in municipalities, within the Provincial Directorates of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, so that certification and inspection processes can be carried out properly