A major eco-friendly step during European Week for Waste Reduction

Bornova Municipality has launched İzmir’s first municipal Waste Bank Project in Çamdibi as part of the European Week for Waste Reduction, introducing a new model to promote recycling. Speaking at the opening, Mayor Ömer Eşki highlighted the impacts of the climate crisis and stressed that recycling is no longer optional but a necessary form of production for the future. Cooperation protocols signed with Rotary, AIESEC, and HBT Batı Recycling created a wide environmental collaboration network—from waste management to youth participation and the recovery of used vegetable oils.

Bornova Municipality officially launched the Waste Bank Project—an unprecedented initiative among İzmir’s municipalities—during European Week for Waste Reduction. At the opening held in front of Çamdibi Covered Market, citizens who brought their waste received gifts such as soap, cleaning products, and organic fertilizer produced in municipal facilities. Mayor Ömer Eşki personally handed out the first gifts.

Ömer Eşki: “Today’s step may seem small but its impact is great”

Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Eşki emphasized that the climate crisis is now a tangible reality affecting daily life:

“From the outside, this may look like a simple application, but the world has reached the limits of its resources. There was a time when we couldn’t go outside without a coat at this time of year; today, we experience abnormal heat. This affects everything—from agriculture to food. Recycling is a form of production; the more we recycle, the less we need to consume. Together we are taking a small step that will solve major problems we will face in our homes. Recycling must now be indispensable for all of us.”

Eşki thanked the municipal staff and partner organizations who contributed to the project and stated that new initiatives strengthening Bornova’s sustainability vision would soon follow.

Waste Bank Model: A pioneering step toward a circular economy

Developed through a cooperation protocol between Bornova Municipality and İzmir Çiğli Rotary Club, the Waste Bank Project aims to:

• Collect recyclable waste

• Reduce the use of natural resources

• Actively involve residents in recycling

• Strengthen the circular economy

Mehmet Ali Yontan, President of Çiğli Rotary Club, described the initiative as “one of Bornova’s visionary environmental steps,” while Rotary District 2440 Governor Adnan Sözeri noted, “The true owners of this project are the citizens acting with environmental awareness.”

Youth included in the process: Cooperation protocol with AIESEC

To increase youth engagement in sustainability efforts, Bornova Municipality also signed a cooperation protocol with AIESEC İzmir. Through this collaboration, young people will take active roles in:

• Waste management

• Climate adaptation

• Emission reduction projects

Bornova Municipality will continue to support initiatives that help turn environmental responsibility into a daily behavior among younger generations.

A new phase in the collection of used vegetable oils

Bornova Municipality has renewed its protocol with HBT Batı Recycling Co. to strengthen the collection of household and commercial used vegetable oils. Under the renewed agreement:

• Used vegetable oils from homes, businesses, and schools will be collected separately at the source

• These oils will be recycled without harming the environment

This practice helps protect environmental health while supporting the recovery economy.