WITHOUT AWARENESS, WE ARE THROWING MILLIONS OF LIRAS IN THE TRASH!

Per capita consumption stands at 48.2 kilos of packaging annually, yet only 27.9 kilos are recycled

Separate collection of packaging waste from household waste and its recovery through recycling protects the natural environment while creating added value for the national economy. Source separation and collection apart from other waste are critical to the functioning of the recycling system. Turkey's authorized packaging waste organization PAGÇEV (PAGEV Recycling Facility) drew attention to recycling and shared information about the current situation in the country. According to data from the "Packaging Information System" created by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation, of the 3 million 850 thousand tonnes of packaging waste placed on the market in 2016, 2 million 226 thousand tonnes—representing 58 percent—were recovered. That means 27.9 kilograms of the 48.2 kilograms of packaging waste consumed per capita were recycled. Pointing out that packaging waste is too valuable to throw away, PAGÇEV General Manager Yağmur Cengiz highlighted the role of source separation and recycling, stating: "Conscious consumption and recycling prevent packaging waste from becoming an environmental problem while creating significant economic value. All of us—public institutions, local authorities, producers and consumers—have responsibilities. The Regulation on the Control of Packaging Waste, which entered into force as of 1 January 2018 and which we supported as PAGÇEV during its preparation phase, also brought important innovations to recycling. According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation's Packaging Information System, the total packaging waste placed on the market in 2016—comprising plastic, paper, glass, metal, composite and wood—was 3 million 850 thousand tonnes. This amounts to 48.2 kilograms per capita. During the same period, packaging waste recovered came to 27.9 kilograms per capita. It is possible to increase recycling rates with an effective Waste Management System. As PAGÇEV, we have shown an increasing trend year on year. Compared to 2016, last year we recovered 220 thousand tonnes of packaging waste with a 22 percent increase and contributed TRY 610 million to the economy. Our target for 2018 is to collect 240 thousand tonnes of waste," he said. The Regulation on the Control of Packaging Waste provides for separate collection of packaging waste at source and assigns significant responsibilities to municipalities in this regard.

PAGÇEV General Manager Yağmur Cengiz,

Noting that municipalities obliged to collect or have collected packaging waste have prepared Packaging Waste Management Plans and submitted them to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation, he stated: "As of 2016, only 303 municipalities had submitted Waste Management Plans to the Ministry and received approval. Taking into account that our country has 1,398 municipalities, it is clear that municipalities need to move faster on separate collection of packaging waste at source. Packaging waste is too valuable to be sent to landfill. Every year we are throwing millions of lira that could be recovered for the economy into landfills. The development of the recycling industry will also accelerate work in this field. As of end 2016, Turkey had 751 licensed recycling facilities and 566 collection and sorting facilities. The number of these needs to increase," he said. Noting that the most important step to take in recycling is to raise public awareness on the subject, Yağmur Cengiz stated: "We all have a responsibility for sustainable recycling. We must be aware that packaging is not waste and that nature is not its place. Once we are finished with products that have contributed to our lives, it is our responsibility as consumers to place them in recycling bins, while it is the responsibility of public institutions to deliver them to the recycling system. We can protect the environment through conscious consumption and recycling rather than through the primitive method of bans. With a good waste management system created by the public sector, we can reach very advanced levels in recycling," he concluded.