From local action to national impact: Samsun Zero Waste Workshop sets sustainability agenda

Coordinated by the Zero Waste Foundation and held under the auspices of the Samsun Governorship, the “Samsun Zero Waste Workshop” was organized. As an important leg of the Türkiye Zero Waste Workshops series, the Samsun meeting aimed to ensure that local dynamics contribute to national environmental policies.

The workshop, held at the Guesthouse of Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), was organized under the theme “From local to national: waste and resource inefficiency” in cooperation with the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, OMU, Samsun University (SAMU), and the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality (SBB). The program attracted significant interest from public institutions, local governments, academics, non-governmental organizations, and private sector representatives.

The program, organized within the scope of International Day of Zero Waste, was attended by Samsun Deputy Governor Murat Bulacak, SBB Deputy Secretary General Ferhan Kodalak, OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, SAMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Bilgin, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz, Samsun Provincial Director of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Tevfik Akçay, as well as academics and citizens.

Deputy Governor Bulacak: “It is the responsibility of all of us to leave a more livable world to future generations”

Speaking at the opening of the program, Samsun Deputy Governor Murat Bulacak stated that zero waste efforts are an important step against global environmental problems. Emphasizing the need to maintain balance in a world where resources are limited and needs are unlimited, Bulacak said, “It is the responsibility of all of us to leave a more livable world to future generations. I believe that the outcomes of this workshop will contribute to Samsun’s environmental policies. It is important that all stakeholders act with a common sense.”

Ferhan Kodalak: “We continue to implement new zero waste projects every year”

Ferhan Kodalak, Deputy Secretary General of the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, spoke about the municipality’s sustainable projects and stated, “As SBB, we consider sustainable environmental management among our priority duties. In addition to many projects, within the scope of digitalization in zero waste, recyclable waste from our citizens is collected directly from their homes by our electric vehicles through the Samsun Zero Waste mobile application we have developed; at the same time, support is provided from Samsun to the Zero Waste Carbon Project. In addition, our citizens can benefit from gift items that support sustainable living with the points they earn through our mobile application for properly separating their waste. With the positive feedback we receive, we continue to implement new zero waste projects every year.”

Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz: “Zero waste is not only an environmental policy but also a matter of development, efficiency, and most importantly, the future”

OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz also pointed to the role of universities in the zero waste process, stating, “Zero waste is not only an environmental policy but also a matter of development, efficiency, and most importantly, the future. Universities are not only institutions that produce knowledge but also leading institutions that shape the cities they are part of, initiate behavioral transformation, and raise social awareness.”

Prof. Dr. Kurnaz continued his remarks as follows: “As OMU, we consider zero waste not merely as a technical waste management process, but as a fundamental component of our education, research, social contribution, and sustainable campus vision. On our campus, we are decisively implementing a multi-dimensional model ranging from source separation to composting practices, from deposit return systems to recycling infrastructure.”

Prof. Dr. Ali Bilgin: “We will discuss a holistic transformation from production to consumption”

SAMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Bilgin emphasized the multi-dimensional structure of the workshop and noted that they would discuss not only waste but also a holistic transformation extending from production to consumption.

Tevfik Akçay: “We have come together to build a more livable world”

Tevfik Akçay, Provincial Director of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, stated that they gathered not only to manage waste but also to manage the future and build a more livable world with a “zero waste” vision, adding, “With the reality that our natural resources are not infinite, preventing waste, reducing waste at the source, reusing and recycling are no longer a choice but a necessity.”

Kemal Yılmaz: “One-third of the food produced in the world is unfortunately wasted”

Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz also emphasized the importance of preventing food waste, stating, “Unfortunately, one-third of the food produced in the world is wasted. We are also wasting the water, labor, and energy we use in food production. In order to preserve production potential and ensure sustainability, we need to reduce losses at every stage of production.”

Following the speeches, participants exchanged ideas at thematic tables.

Seeking solutions at 14 thematic tables

Within the scope of the workshop, 14 thematic tables were formed, and topics such as environment and resource management; climate change and disaster management, water efficiency, food waste, plastic and packaging management, energy transition, industry and circular economy, sustainable tourism, public space management, social awareness, institutional coordination, and green financing were addressed in a multi-dimensional manner.

Data and solution proposals to be reported

The data and solution proposals generated during the thematic sessions will be recorded and reported, and will be supported in the future with pilot applications, policy recommendations, and performance indicators.

A roadmap to guide environmental policies will be created

It is aimed that the findings obtained from the workshop will be transformed into a roadmap that will guide Samsun’s environmental policies. In this context, it is planned to determine the province’s short-, medium-, and long-term environmental targets through the “Local Zero Waste Target Document” to be prepared.