A new project enhances waste management in eight municipalities of Türkiye, focusing on zero waste practices, local capacity building, and improved environmental conditions

Building on national waste management regulations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is initiating a new project in Türkiye designed to improve waste management systems in municipalities hosting significant numbers of Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTP) and refugees. Funded by the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (USBPRM) with a budget of over $4.5 million, the project aims to enhance the capacity of the selected municipalities to implement inclusive and participatory waste management practices. The three-year initiative will be carried out with eight municipalities across five provinces hosting 1.23 million SuTP in Türkiye including Adıyaman, Hatay, Izmir, Kilis, and Şanlıurfa.

Being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change (MoEUCC), the project focuses on expanding the zero-waste model; providing essential equipment, materials, and vehicles for waste collection; building local capacity to enforce waste management regulations; and improving the living and working conditions of vulnerable populations including SuTP in both urban and rural areas where waste management presents significant environmental and social challenges. 

To achieve these objectives, the project first assesses the current conditions in pilot provinces, including earthquake-affected areas, and analyzes changes in municipal capacities. To date, this assessment has been completed for Izmir Konak, Şanlıurfa Haliliye, and Kilis municipalities to better understand the requirements for implementing zero-waste management. Similar assessments have been initiated but are not yet complete for Adıyaman Central, Besni, Hatay Antakya, Reyhanlı, and Iskenderun municipalities.

Following these assessments, municipalities will receive targeted equipment support to address identified needs. For the municipalities where assessments have been completed, procurement and delivery of essential machinery and equipment have already begun.

In addition to the equipment support, the project will promote waste collection at neighborhood and district levels, partnering with civil waste management initiatives, including women’s cooperatives, and offer training and support for seasonal workers involved in waste management. Waste collectors will also be registered, and their working conditions will be improved through additional equipment. 

Moreover, a zero-waste incentivization scheme will be developed within the project in the target municipalities. Through this scheme, zero-waste markets will be established, encouraging residents to bring their recyclable waste in exchange for shopping credits that will be loaded onto their cards. The current situation analysis has been completed, and the design of the zero-waste incentive schemes is now under development for each municipality.

Additionally, training programs on zero-waste practices and refugee-focused services will be provided for municipalities and their capacity improvement will be measured with comparative analysis. As part of the efforts to enhance social cohesion and promote the internalization of zero-waste practices, a variety of activities are already taking place. These include the development and delivery of several training modules for community wardens from both refugee and host communities. To date, over 1,800 individuals from refugee and host communities, including community wardens and the broader community, have received training on zero-waste management, domestic solid waste management, social cohesion, and the risks associated with solid waste collection.

By promoting waste separation at the source and enhancing recycling efforts, the project will reduce the amount of waste accumulating in landfills, thereby alleviating pressure on existing landfill sites and addressing environmental pollution and public health issues in these areas.

This initiative aims to support improved waste management practices as part of broader earthquake recovery efforts by strengthening municipal services and enhancing the capacity of local administrations, while also supporting and promoting the implementation of the zero-waste regulation. These efforts will ensure that all members of the community have access to essential services, thereby fostering social cohesion and environmental sustainability within these host communities.