Wetin start as small programme for Türkiye under First Lady Emine Erdogan almost ten years ago don grow reach as one of di biggest and most important environmental movements for di world.

On Monday, as countries around di globe dey observe di fourth International Day of Zero Waste, Türkiye dey for di centre of how di world don begin change how people dey manage waste.

Di Zero Waste Project launch for 2017 under di patronage of Erdogan — wey be Honorary President of di Zero Waste Foundation and Chair of di UN High-Level Advisory Board on Zero Waste — and e don grow from one local recycling initiative to one global framework wey international body don recognise.

Di observance for dis year, wey dem coordinate from UN Headquarters for New York and at di same time for Türkiye’s permanent missions for Geneva, Nairobi, Paris, Brussels, Rome, London, Berlin, Vienna, Baku and other places, put food waste and Türkiye’s upcoming COP31 presidency for di front of di agenda.

From di time di project start for 2017, Türkiye don recover 90 million tonnes of waste dem return give di economy, wey don create 365 billion Turkish liras economic value.

Di country recycling rate climb from 13 percent for 2017 to 37.53 percent for 2025, and dem set targets of 60 percent by 2035 and 70 percent by 2053.

Peoplewey dey observe di matter dey surprise for how di movement don grow.

"Türkiye dey implement di Zero Waste Initiative wey First Lady Emine Erdogan start, and di scope don pass just waste reduction… energy saving don turn equally central for di agenda," Klaus Jurgens, political analyst and communications strategist, talk.

"Di ambition big well: 60 percent recycling rate by 2035, energy and water savings for more than 50 million homes, and serious reduction for greenhouse gas emissions — each one don become important part of di programme," Jurgens tell TRT World.

Di environmental damage wey dem avoid na serious: energy savings wey equal di yearly electricity need of 54 million households, water savings wey match Istanbul consumption for two years, and prevention of 180 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions — wey be like removing about 36 million cars from road for one year.

Global movement

Di road to global recognition sef na diplomatic milestone.

On December 14, 2022, UN General Assembly adopt resolution wey Türkiye propose and 105 countries back, formally declare March 30 as di International Day of Zero Waste.

For dat first observance for 2023, Erdogan talk for special session of di UN General Assembly, and she become di first Turkish First Lady wey don speak for di UN rostrum.

For di same session, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announce formation of di UN High-Level Advisory Board on Zero Waste and personally invite Erdogan to chair am.

She accept, and di board formally form on April 12, 2023, wey bring people from United States, India, Brazil, Morocco, Belgium, di Netherlands, Chile, Colombia, Bangladesh and Sierra Leone join senior UN leadership.

Di fifth meeting hold for Istanbul in October 2025, inside di inaugural International Zero Waste Forum. Di three-day event gather representatives from over 100 countries, more than 60 speakers and 118 institutions.

"With COP31 wey go hold for Antalya later dis year, Türkiye get opportunity to build on wetin Azerbaijan show for COP29, say climate summits fit bring real results. Türkiye go aim higher, set trends no be only for di region but for di whole world," Jurgens talk.

"By make COP31 become milestone for clean energy and environmental action, Türkiye fit gain new partners worldwide and export e own best practices for dis field," e explain.

Raising public awareness

For inside country, di movement don enter Turkish everyday life.

Over 217,000 buildings and campuses don adopt di Zero Waste Management System. Plus, 28 million people don get training under di Zero Waste programme, so di project na public awareness campaign as well as environmental programme.

National deposit return scheme wey dem start as pilot for January 2025 don expand reach 53 provinces, with over 12.5 million packaging units return through 834 reverse vending machines.

Di country rank third for di world in 2025, with 577 Blue Flag beaches, wey show di Zero Waste Blue initiative wey dem run to fight marine pollution dey also work.

"Türkiye fit still extend di zero waste philosophy into how dem build and retrofit housing stock — energy-efficient, passive homes and sustainable neighbourhoods, some wey dey use recycled water, fit be di next natural step," Jurgens talk.

"Zero Waste go soon turn reality, no be myth," e add.

Di project don also collect international recognition seven times: awards from FAO, UNDP, UN-Habitat, di World Bank, di Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and, most recently for 2026, di Green Organisation.

According to Jurgens, di movement success na as much communication as e be policy.

"Promote protection of our environment no be only to pass law, but na to explain di reason behind those laws and policy initiatives to ordinary people," Jurgens tell TRT World as e dey talk for di sidelines of di 5th Stratcom Summit for Istanbul.

"If voters and di public no informed and dem dey left for dark, chances say well-intended measures from business and government go pass unnoticed."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan be di first signatory of di Global Zero Waste Declaration of Good Will.

Today, over 438,000 volunteers from 131 countries don add dia names through di online platform, join by more than 50 first ladies and senior representatives of international organisations.

From one recycling bin for government corridor to one resolution for di UN General Assembly, Türkiye zero waste journey show say environmental change fit start for house, and with the correct leadership, e fit spread reach di whole world.