Call for Mobilization on Recycling

The Sustainable Production and Consumption Association calls for a waste collection and recycling campaign, emphasizing the value of waste to industry. Paper, wood, glass, metal, plastic, food, oil, tyres, batteries, automobiles and electrical-electronic goods that have reached the end of their useful life, as well as waste generated during production and manufacturing in industry, are not simply waste but valuable raw materials for our country, stressed Prof. Dr. Filiz Karaosmanoğlu, Faculty Member at Istanbul Technical University and Chair of the Sustainable Production and Consumption Association (SÜT-D). Drawing attention to Global Recycling Day on 18 March, which is being celebrated for the third time this year, and creating broad impact are among our priorities as SÜT-D, he stated.

The recycling sector receives USD 20 million in investment annually

"When optimal waste management is achieved, we can reduce the impact of waste on the environment and climate change, and advance toward sustainable living for human and natural health. In prioritizing Zero Waste Generation, Minimal Waste Production, Waste Reuse, Waste Recycling/Advanced Recycling, Material/Energy Recovery from Waste, and Waste Disposal, our industry faces a major opportunity," said Prof. Dr. Filiz Karaosmanoğlu. With recyclables being processed, approximately 1.6 million people are employed globally, recyclables currently meet 40 percent of the world's raw material needs, USD 20 million is invested annually in the recycling sector, and new jobs are being created. He also provided striking figures, noting that the sector's contribution to global gross domestic product is estimated to exceed USD 400 billion over the next decade, and stated that waste is the seventh natural resource after water, air, coal, petroleum, natural gas and minerals.

Recyclables are vital for a climate-resilient Turkey

Prof. Karaosmanoğlu provided the information that "Recyclables reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 700 million tonnes annually, in other words by amounts that would offset aviation-based greenhouse gas emissions, and this figure is projected to reach 1 billion tonnes by 2030. Recycling is vital for our climate-resilient country."

Let us not discard—citizens and industrialists together in a recycling campaign

Let us not dispose of the waste we generate through our daily consumption. At home, at school, at work, in fields, in forests, on the roads—let us look for recycling bins for our waste. Every piece of waste we add to the recycling chain is important for developing our country's economy and strengthening our future. Our industrialists should see the opportunity in waste and in the circular economy; recycling investments in our country must increase, said Dr. Karaosmanoğlu, issuing a call for a recycling campaign.