Projects Involved
As an industrial city which is struggling with air and sea pollution due to high industrial emission rates and industrial wastes as a province, the municipality act to respond the problem effectively and efficiently for long years. Specifically, Izmit Municipality Climate Change and Zero Waste Directorate organizes solid waste management trainings specifically for first and secondary school students in the province, and it is placing recycling containers at schools, workplaces and separate points of the city but also waste oils, waste tires and waste electronic products are collected from homes, workplaces and other institutions.
Furthermore, It has created a special website for creating awareness about the issue but also informs people about the activities projects which were already accomplished and will be implemented as well. (//izmitcinaratik.com), but also it is initiated İzmit Çınar Waste mobile application that shows the positioning of all types of recycling points in the province for its citizens. By closely following the technological developments, the requests and demands of citizens and the waste points can be monitored instantly via this web /android application. Specifically Izmit Çınar Waste Mobile Application has achieved to become a candidate for Transformative Action Awards for 2021 as well. As a municipality, studies are carried out continuously on the reduction of environmental pollution, re-evaluation of wastes and sustainable environment. The municipalty's work continues intensively, especially in packaging wastes, electronic wastes, textile wastes, and vegetable frying oils, waste batteries, recycling of organic wastes, renewable energy, and end-of-life tires. The ultimate goal is to spread the zero waste practice throughout Izmit by motivating us even more with the sensitivity of its citizens to the environment.
1) Environment and School: Izmit Municipality, attaches great importance to education. The municipality aims to raise environmentally sensitive generations by increasing the environmental awareness of its students at primary school level. The municipality provides environmental and recycling trainings in all schools in its region during the education period. Every year, thousands of students learn to be environmentally friendly, sort out wastes, and protect the environment and nature.
All recyclable waste collected from its schools returns to schools as a source. In return for the collected wastes, photocopy paper, computer, printer etc. the municipality supports material. In this way, students contribute to both the environment and their schools. The municipality organizes waste collection competitions in schools every year to create environmental awareness. The municipality aims its students to become active environmental volunteers by rewarding schools that collect the most waste on the World Environment Day. During the Environment Week, The municipality organizes various programs to increase the interest of people in the environment. With the principle of on-site learning, The municipality take schools to recycling facilities and Municipality's projects. In this way, students learn about the recycling of wastes on site and get information about the services and practices of the Municipality.
2) Zero Waste: Within the scope of the Zero Waste Regulation, the efforts to reduce waste generation, separate collection and recycling at the source continue. Necessary studies are carried out in the boundaries of the district to collect the wastes separately at their source and recycle them. Within the scope of Zero Waste practices, necessary precautions have been taken in the Municipality service building and in all the service buildings. Necessary training has been provided to the municipal staff. Garbage bins in the offices of the municipality were removed and colored recycling bins were placed in the corridors. In this way, labor savings have been achieved, the need for bags has been reduced, and waste has been separated at its source. With the project, the amount of recyclable waste in its service building increased, while the amount of waste decreased by 60%. As a result of the municipality's practices, a Zero Waste Certificate was obtained for the municipal service building. The municipality hasmade Zero Waste Certificate applications for other service buildings. The municipality provides material and training support to many institutions and organizations in order to reduce the amount of waste and achieve the goal of zero waste.
3) Carbon Reduction: The municipality is working to reduce the carbon footprint. In order to reduce carbon emissions, all of the lamps in the service buildings have been replaced with LED bulbs. In its service buildings and throughout the district, studies are carried out to collect and recycle the wastes separately at the source. Especially all its vehicles, which are affiliated with the Cleaning Works Directorate, have been renewed and taken into the Municipality. The emission values of the renewed vehicles are extremely low compared to the old ones.Solar energy and rainwater recycling projects are included and implemented in its newly built or to be built facilities. The municipality illuminates street lamps with solar energy. The municipality says "The Sun Lights It at Night and It Does Not Send an Invoice".
4) Environment Criteria: In the municipality, there are obligatory applications and some permits to be taken to protect the environment and human health. In Izmit, gray water separation is provided at the project stage in all new buildings with three households and above. Gray and black water is separated during the project phase and creates preliminary work and infrastructure for rainwater collection systems. In addition, it is required to place oil traps in the buildings during the settlement phase. In this way, the accumulated oils are recycled and waste oil is prevented from damaging the infrastructure.
Cooperation with International Organizations.pdf
Izmit Municipality Studies for Sustainability and Adaptation to Climate Change last version.pdf