In 9 Months, 53 Tons of Waste Collected

A nine-month report has been released for the 'Blue Breath Project', launched to conduct awareness training on waste surface cleaning in the Sea of Marmara and marine cleaning in regional provinces. According to the report, approximately 53 tons of waste were collected over the nine-month period. Garanti BBVA, which works to combat the climate crisis and create a sustainable world, in cooperation with DenizTemiz Association/TURMEPA, has released a nine-month report for the 'Blue Breath Project', which was launched to prevent marine pollution by conducting waste surface cleaning operations in the Sea of Marmara and awareness training on marine cleaning in regional provinces. According to the report, between 21 September 2021 and June 2022, sea sweepers collected 52,590 kilograms, or approximately 53 tons of waste, and sent it for recycling. The waste collected by sea sweepers is equivalent to the daily waste produced by approximately 46,000 people.

Plastics cause the most pollution

Within the project scope, one-third of the approximately 53 tons of waste collected by sea sweepers, or 17 tons, consists of plastic waste such as bags and PET bottles. The cleanup covered 4.8 tons of clothing and textile materials, 4.4 tons of metal, 4 tons of fishing waste such as fishing nets, and 11 tons of sea mucilage and marine debris collected from the Sea of Marmara.

Awareness increased

In the awareness-raising component of the project, online training conducted at middle school level covers topics including Global Climate Change, Our Seas, Sea Mucilage (Mucilage), Sources of Pollution, Zero Waste Movement, Sustainable Development Goals and Carbon Emissions. 'Knowledge Tests' are also administered to students to measure and improve the effectiveness of the training. When test results are evaluated, significant changes in awareness levels are evident among students who participated in the training within the Blue Breath Project. In the tests conducted, it was observed that students' knowledge levels regarding seas as sources of oxygen increased from 68.5% to 99%, and awareness of the 'Blue Carbon' concept, which refers to carbon stored in coastal ecosystems, rose from 56% to 94.3%. Awareness regarding the 'Zero Waste Project' currently being carried out in schools increased from 64.5% to 86.3%, and sensitivity to waste prevention and recycling issues was also observed to increase.