Ömer Karadeniz, the President of PLASFED, stated that the urgency of establishing a source separation system, which has been discussed for years, has increased even more. "Our country's plastic recycling sector has been sourcing high-quality and consistent waste from European countries for years, as we cannot obtain it domestically. However, European countries are starting to implement a strategy to position themselves in this rapidly developing industry," he evaluated. Karadeniz noted that this sector is projected to have an average annual growth rate of 11.3% until 2050 and that the primary source of the sorted waste needed by this sector will also come from European countries. He added, "The cessation of waste exports from these countries would mean that nearly 50% of our country's plastic recycling sector's capacity will turn into waste. Therefore, necessary steps must be taken to establish an effective source separation system in our country."

 

The Zero Waste Project Must Be Accelerated

In this context, Karadeniz emphasized the importance of accelerating the initial steps of the zero waste project, stating, "Local governments need to expedite their investments." He mentioned that, just like in developed countries, it is possible to minimize environmental issues through source separation of waste in Turkey. Karadeniz pointed out, "In the plastic sector, we are over 85% dependent on imports for raw materials. If we establish an effective source separation system domestically and recycle the plastics put into the market, the import needs of our sector will significantly decrease." Karadeniz continued, "As in Europe, it is necessary to transfer the resources collected from those who put packaging on the market to project financing and the subsidies needed for the system to operate."
 

Translated by Artificial Intelligence