From Local Recycling to UN Leadership

What started nearly a decade ago under First Lady Emine Erdoğan has become one of the world’s most ambitious environmental movements. The Zero Waste Project, launched in 2017, has grown from a domestic recycling initiative into a global framework recognized by the UN.

On the fourth International Day of Zero Waste, Türkiye stood at the center of worldwide observances, with events coordinated from UN Headquarters in New York and Turkish missions across Europe, Africa, and Asia. This year’s focus: food waste and Türkiye’s upcoming COP31 presidency.

Since its launch, Türkiye has recovered 90 million tonnes of waste, generating 365 billion liras in economic value. Recycling rates jumped from 13% in 2017 to 37.5% in 2025, with targets of 60% by 2035 and 70% by 2053. Analysts highlight the broader impact: energy savings equal to the annual needs of 54 million households, water savings matching Istanbul’s two-year consumption, and the prevention of 180 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions—like removing 36 million cars from the road for a year.

Source: Newstimehub