One shoe can be produced from 11 waste PET bottles

One Shoe Can Be Produced From 11 PET Bottles Speaking at the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, known as the Barcelona Convention and hosted by Turkey, Sadiye Bilgiç Karabulut, Head of the Zero Waste and Waste Management Department at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, stated that "it is possible to produce one shoe from 11 PET bottles." The 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, known as the Barcelona Convention and hosted by Turkey, took place in Antalya. Sadiye Bilgiç Karabulut, Head of the Zero Waste and Waste Management Department at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, made statements regarding the conference. Speaking about the Zero Waste Project, Karabulut noted that 1.1 million tonnes of scrap plastic waste are collected and recycled annually in Turkey, stating that "it is possible to produce one shoe from 11 PET bottles."

Karabulut Made Statements at COP 22

The 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution was held in Antalya under Turkey's hosting. Sadiye Bilgiç Karabulut, Head of the Zero Waste and Waste Management Department at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, made statements at the conference. Making remarks on recycling, Karabulut emphasised that the Zero Waste Project launched in 2017 continues successfully. Noting that the recovery rate was in the 13 percent range in the initial years of the project, Karabulut stated, "Today this figure has reached 22.4 percent. Our target is to raise this rate to 35 percent by 2023."

Prevention of 354 Thousand Tonnes of Plastic Formation

Karabulut also noted that plastic waste is the primary source of pollution in the Mediterranean. Stating that plastic waste is also an important raw material source, Karabulut said that 1.1 million tonnes of plastic waste were recycled in Turkey this year. Karabulut said: "Today plastic production has reached 335 million tonnes. We need to be able to manage the waste these create so we can derive value from it. On the other hand, plastic bag pricing began in our country in 2019. Important gains have been achieved since that day. Within 2 years, plastic bag usage decreased by 75 percent. The formation of 354 thousand tonnes of plastic has been prevented," using these expressions.

PET Bottles Can Be Converted Into Textile Products

Expressing that PET bottles play a major role in recycling, Karabulut said: "PET bottles are converted into textile products and it is possible to produce one shoe from 11 of them. Additionally, granules are obtained from plastic polyethylene waste and used as raw material. Plastic products are obtained in industry." In her statement, Karabulut also addressed mask and glove waste, which has begun to create a major problem with the pandemic. Karabulut also noted that the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change issued a circular on this matter. Karabulut stated: "Especially in public areas there are separate collection boxes. These wastes are not classified as medical waste. However, since they carry infection risk, they need to be managed like other waste after a certain period," using these words.