50 Tonnes of Fertilizer Packaging to Be Destroyed

An event was organized by Muğla Provincial Department of Agriculture and Forestry at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University AKM 15 Şehitleri Hall to introduce the "Collection and Disposal of Fertilizer Product Packaging Waste Project," during which details related to the project were shared.

Project Collects 8 Tons of Waste

At the event organized for the "Collection and Disposal of Fertilizer Product Packaging Waste Project," Provincial Agriculture Director Barış Saylak made statements. Saylak noted that 8 tons of waste have been collected to date through this project and that their goal is to dispose of 50 tons of waste without causing environmental damage through this initiative.

Targeting Waste Disposal Without Environmental Harm

At the event held by Muğla Provincial Department of Agriculture and Forestry at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University AKM 15 Şehitleri Hall, the introduction of the "Collection and Disposal of Plant Protection Product and Fertilizer Product Packaging Waste" project was held together with celebrations of "World Food Day" and "World Women Farmers Day." Provincial Agriculture Director Barış Saylak delivered remarks at the event. Emphasizing that through the project they have implemented with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, and Muğla Governorate, they continue to protect nature and food safety, Saylak stated: "In the project that began in June 2021, a total of 8 tons of waste have been collected and disposed of according to records to date. We all know that plant protection product packaging waste and fertilizer packaging waste cause serious environmental pollution. According to 2021 data, our province has approximately 28,673 farmers registered in the Farmer Registration System. Approximately 460,000 plant protection product packages enter our province annually. In locations where chemical waste accumulates, and concentrated in such areas, our province uses approximately 50,000 tons of fertilizer total in various forms including approximately 1.6 million plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, aluminum bags, plastic sacks, jute sacks, and metal containers. The waste generated after these are used unfortunately poses a major threat to the environment. It pollutes soil, water, groundwater and even our seas. It directly and indirectly threatens the population of living organisms in these areas and human health. This amounts to approximately 40 to 50 tons of waste. Through this project, we aim to dispose of all this waste without causing environmental damage," he said. Saylak noted that they gathered to present various gifts to thank 89 producers who disposed of waste at designated collection points under the project scope, and expressed their hope that this exemplary behavior would become more widespread.

Cleaner Environment, Healthier Food

Saylak also touched on 16 October Food Day in his remarks and emphasized that a cleaner environment means healthier food. Saylak stated: "Approximately 19 million tons of food are wasted annually in Turkey. This is nearly one-fifth of what we produce. To fully understand what these figures mean, I would like to give an example: if we could improve food waste by just 2 percent in our country, we could cover the annual living expenses of approximately 360,000 families."

"The Ministry and Our Directorate's Goal is More Women Farmers, More Projects, More Investment"

Barış Saylak, celebrating all women on 15 October World Women Farmers Day, said: "With our 28,673 farmers registered in our Farmer Registration System in Muğla and actively engaged in production, we are one large family. Approximately 5,000 of these are women producers. The ministry's investment and production support has provided positive discrimination for women producers and especially our women's cooperatives. In recent years, we have seen that investments and projects targeting women producers have been completed successfully. The Ministry and our Directorate, seeing that success is inevitable, aim for more women farmers, more projects, more investment," he said.