President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s wife, First Lady Emine Erdoğan, said that the Zero Waste Project, which was launched in 2017 under her auspices, went beyond her dreams and achieved international success.
Emine Erdoğan gave her first interview to Anadolu Agency Yeşilhat, for the first time in Turkey to establish an Environment Editor within media organizations.
Pointing out that they have a valuable aim to be among the leading architects of a livable world, as well as to leave a clean and developed Turkey to future generations, First Lady Emine Erdoğan said that she is proud of the results achieved with the Zero Waste Project, which has become a world brand by overcoming the ends. stated.
Stating that women play the leading role in the dissemination of zero waste and making it an inseparable module of life, First Lady Emine Erdoğan told her leading wives to carry out a joint project to deal with climate change, which has become the most precious problem of the world. was invited.
Emine Erdogan’s answers to the questions of AA correspondent regarding the latest situation in Zero Waste Project are as follows:
Question: “Turkey’s largest environmental How do you evaluate the point reached by the Zero Waste Project that you have become a “movement”?
Emine Erdoğan: The Zero Waste Project has gone far beyond my dreams. Today, I witness that the project is quickly known by everyone from 7 to 70 in our country. This is a valuable achievement for our country, which makes us very happy. The concept of zero waste has now entered our lives. We aim to expand the Zero Waste Project nationwide by 2023. We follow with appreciation the efforts of our Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change in this regard. Our municipalities are also very interested in this issue. Many institutions are collaborating to promote zero waste. Our Ministry of National Education provides education on zero waste, environment and climate change to students at all levels, starting from pre-school. Both our ministries and all institutions have very valuable missions in this regard. We accomplished many purposes ahead of time. I think we are doing an exemplary job as a country. As well as leaving a clean and developed Turkey to the next generations, we also have a very valuable aim to be among the leading architects of a livable world. From the start of our project in 2017 to January 2022, 16.5 million tons of paper-cardboard, 4.1 million tons of plastic, 1.7 million tons of glass, 0.4 million tons of metal, 1.5 million tons of organic and other recycled materials. approximately 24.2 million tons of recyclable waste, including recyclable waste, was brought into the economy.
“APPROXIMATELY 2.44 BILLION LIRA SAVED WITH ZERO WASTE”
When the Zero Waste Project started, the recovery rate was 13 percent. Currently, this rate is around 22.4 percent. We aim to increase our recovery rate to 35 percent in 2023. As you know, a 75 percent reduction in the use of bags has been achieved with the price bag application. To date, 354 thousand tons of plastic waste originating from plastic bags has been prevented. This reduction also prevented the import of raw materials required for plastic bag production and approximately 2.44 billion liras were saved. In addition, approximately 14,640 tons of greenhouse gas emissions were prevented. We are proud of these results we have achieved. This effort is a great investment for the future of our country and our children.
“ZERO WASTE PROJECT HAS BECOME A WORLD BRAND”
Question: The Zero Waste Project received many national and international awards at the same time. Finally, he was awarded by the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. How do you evaluate these achievements?
Emine Erdoğan: As you know, our project was awarded with special environmental awards from UNDP and UN HABİTAT, two valuable institutions of the United Nations, last year. The Zero Waste Project was cited as an ‘Promising Project’ in the OECD country report in 2019. These are all very valuable developments for the name of our country. Finally, the best project was chosen in the competition in which 21 Mediterranean countries participated with many projects in the Mediterranean Parliament. We are very happy with this award. Because Turkey is a leading actor in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean is one of the regions most affected by climate change. The future of not only our country but the entire region depends on taking real and swift steps in the effort with climate change. We are also leading the region in this bet. We do not deal with the Zero Waste Project only within the borders of our country. Effort with climate change should be an area where the whole world should act together. Therefore, we are striving for the future of both our country and the world.
Question: How can Zero Waste become our culture of life? What are your recommendations in this regard?
Emine Erdoğan: Zero Waste is actually not a foreign concept to us. If we go back to the roots of our own culture and remember the codes there, we will understand that what we call ‘zero waste’ is actually a culture of life for us. We have reflexes to consume as much as we need, to extend the life of things by repairing them before buying a new one. Naturally, people are now presented with a world oriented to consuming more globally. At this point, establishing a nature-friendly life and making choices on this side also require some individual responsibility. First of all, nothing should be regarded as ‘waste’ or ‘garbage’. Preferring reusable works instead of ‘disposable’ works will make a great contribution to the future of the world. We can take easy but very effective steps to stay away from plastics and use water flasks instead of plastic bottles. In fact, the trick is to create as little waste as possible, and ideally not to create any waste. Because after creating waste, it is much more difficult to make an effort.
We have also established the Zero Waste system in the Kulliye and in all the institutions to which the Presidency is affiliated, no garbage trucks come here anymore. The food scraps in the mess halls are sent to the animal shelters. The garden of the Kulliye has been turned into a small animal shelter, and every stray cat and dog that takes shelter here is taken care of by our willing animal-loving staff. Also, ‘Chickpeas’, which we adopted from Yedikule Animal Shelter on Animal Defense Day, lives here with us, makes new friends and enjoys the garden.
“I BELIEVE THAT WOMEN ARE LEADING TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF ZERO WASTE”
Question: The Zero Waste Project is also referred to as a “women’s environmental movement”. How do you evaluate the role of women in the Zero Waste Project?
Emine Erdoğan: It is not a coincidence that women and surroundings come together, on the contrary, it is a valuable partnership. As with all negative effects, the cluster women are the most affected by the deterioration of the environment. Women are both consumers and influencers of the environment. By using and managing natural resources, they ensure that food and other needs are met for both their families and society. All over the world, women are the main actors in this regard. Because of this, they directly experience the consequences of the destruction of nature and the depletion of natural resources.
I believe that women are pioneers in promoting zero waste and making it an integral part of our spine. First of all, they know that the future of their children depends on the protection of nature. We always encourage women to participate in environmental projects, and they are participating in increasing numbers. For example, our female farmers contribute the most to the ‘Our Heritage Local Seeds’ project, which includes the protection of biodiversity, access to healthy food and the preservation of local seeds. After that, of course, new projects can be developed. We are in elbow contact with our women from all circles. I give particular importance to the projects developed by women. I think that the zero waste project will move to higher levels as women realize their indispensable role in making the environment livable and sustainable.
“ZERO WASTE AND ZERO WASTE BLUE TWO BROTHER PROJECTS”
Question: The purity of sea and water assets throughout Turkey, active effort with marine litter within the scope of the Zero Waste Project Could you inform us about the current status of the ‘Zero Waste Blue’ project, which was launched in 2019 for
Emine Erdoğan: Seas and oceans are very valuable for the continuity of life. Our country is one of the strongest points in the world with its biodiversity and underwater assets. For this reason, the purity of our seas, lakes and rivers is a topic that we are very sensitive about. We can say that Zero Waste and Zero Waste Mavi are two sister projects. As you know, 80 percent of the pollution in the seas is of terrestrial origin. The Zero Waste Mavi project aims to both clean up existing waste and prevent the creation of new waste. 760 organizations of our country gave the ‘Zero Waste Blue Promise’. They promised to deal with the pollution of the seas. NGOs, municipalities and volunteers also give a lot of support. With the valuable work we carry out on the prevention of marine pollution, great improvements are seen in sea water quality, which rapidly increases the number of our Blue Flag beaches, which are an indicator of pure seas. Our country ranked third in the world with 519 Blue Flag beaches in 2021. Our aim for 2023 is to be the first in the world. Also, as you know, within the scope of the Zero Waste Blue project, the conservation work of Lake Salda, which is unique in the world, was carried out. Visitors who had come to the lakeside with vehicles before are now prohibited from stepping on those special sands, even with shoes. In order to protect the lake from cigarette butts, a smoking ban was introduced in the open area. The number of visitors was limited to protect the lake again. We have started a great effort to protect our other natural beauty, Lake Van. Personally, I accompanied the cleaning activities of the shoreline of the lake, and we also visited the works to prevent land-based pollution of the lake with treatment plants on site. This was achieved thanks to the nationwide awareness of the Zero Waste Blue project.
INVITATION TO Wives OF PRESIDENTS WORLDWIDE
Question: You share your sensitivity about climate change and the environment with the wives of the presidents in the countries you visit. What do you think should be the role of the wives of the leaders in climate change?
Emine Erdoğan: The most valuable element for me in the projects I support is how much they serve humanity. That’s why I attach great importance to the Zero Waste Project, and I focus on it sensitively. All of us have very limited time, and in this limited time, we need to be busy with things that will lead to great good. I am a mother first and a grandmother at the same time. I pray the same prayer for both my own children, grandchildren and all the children of this country. I pray for a livable world and a pleasant future for them. The Zero Waste Project is an effort that can be a cornerstone in the establishment of this future. All societies want to transfer themselves to the future. But imagine that in the future, natural resources will be depleted, water and food will be harder to find, and livable places will decrease due to climate change. Who would want to take their place in such a future world? Therefore, the most valuable message I will give here is to show the necessary common sensitivity in order not to put the problem of climate change on the back of the agenda.
Climate change is a common problem for all of us without exception. As the spouses of the leaders, I believe in the necessity of carrying out joint projects in order to draw attention to this most valuable problem of the world and not to allow the attention here to diminish.
We initiated a diplomacy with the spouses of the presidents, especially on the Zero Waste Project. Many countries have contacted us to learn about the project and implement it in their countries, we are holding talks with the leading spouses in these countries. In addition, we came to the middle of the program organized in Istanbul with the spouses of African state leaders in Istanbul within the scope of the 3rd Turkey-Africa Participation Summit. Here, too, I had the opportunity to share the value of zero waste with the wives of the president.
“I’M OPEN TO ALL INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS AND I AM READY TO PROVIDE THE STRENGTH I CAN”
Efforts with climate change cannot be carried out on a purely technical track. Simultaneously, we have a lot of work to do in the field of education and culture in order to re-establish a stable connection with nature. We need to organize campaigns that will reinforce our building of life styles in harmony with nature and link it on a global scale. I am open to all international projects and I am ready to contribute my best. I hope that the cooperation of the international community on environmental issues will increase exponentially in the future.
“I HIGHLY CONGRATULATE THE FAMILY OF THE ANADOLU AGENCY”
Question: Yeşilhat was established within the AA Environment Editorial Office to create social sensitivity regarding environmental issues. How do you evaluate our agency’s sensitivity to the environment and its news?
Emine Erdoğan: I sincerely congratulate the Anadolu Agency family for the environmental editorial work established under the name Yeşilhat. It is an application that will be shown as an example in the international arena to make free access to the news of the environment both in our country and in the world free. The media has a very valuable role in the formation of social sensitivity about the environment. The more often this issue is covered in the media and the more it appears in front of people, the wider the circle of awareness. I am sure that with the news you will make, you will help a great awakening and the formation of environmental consciousness in all of us. In the new era, Anadolu Agency’s work on the Discrimination Line established to raise awareness against discrimination based on religion, language, race and gender and the Confirmation Limit mechanism for fast access to real information are admirable. In addition, I heartily congratulate all the workers of Anadolu Agency, which has become one of the world’s well-known news agencies by increasing its visibility in the international arena with its well-equipped workers all over the world.
