Eight municipalities in Türkiye benefit from enhanced waste management practices, local capacity building, and improved environmental conditions

The first project board meeting for the  “Social Cohesion through Inclusive Zero Waste” project took place today with the participation of representatives from partner organizations. During the meeting, participants reviewed the progress achieved so far and discussed the roadmap for upcoming activities. The three-year initiative is funded by the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (USBPRM) with a budget of over US$4.5 million and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change.

Building on national waste management regulations, this initiative focuses on improving the capacity of municipalities hosting large numbers of Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTP) and refugees to implement inclusive and participatory waste management practices. It targets eight municipalities in five provinces: Adıyaman, Hatay, Izmir, Kilis, and Şanlıurfa.

The project aims to expand the zero-waste model; provide essential equipment, materials, and vehicles for waste collection; build local capacity to enforce waste management regulations; and improve the living and working conditions of vulnerable populations including SuTP in urban areas where waste presents significant environmental and social challenges. It also aims to enhance the waste management capacities of municipalities impacted by the February 2023 earthquakes by effectively addressing the requirements arising from the new living conditions in the aftermath of the disaster.

To date, assessments of current waste management conditions have been completed, identifying specific needs for implementing zero-waste management practices. Following these assessments, deliveries of key components including a solid waste collection and sorting facility, prefabricated zero-waste markets, mobile zero waste collection vehicles, recyclable waste collection trucks, electric tricycles, protective equipment and gear, hygiene kits, and containers have been initiated to enhance the waste management capacities of the municipalities.

Additionally, training programs on zero-waste practices and refugee-focused services are being provided to municipalities. The capacity improvement of these municipalities will be measured through comparative analysis. As part of efforts to enhance social cohesion and internalize zero-waste practices, a variety of activities are already taking place. These include developing and delivering training modules for community wardens from both refugee and host communities. To date, over 11,076 individuals from these communities have received training on zero-waste management, domestic solid waste management, social cohesion, and the risks associated with waste collection.

The project also promotes decent waste collection practices 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. In line with the regulations, the waste collectors will also be registered to the relevant municipalities, 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.

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