President Pekyatırmacı explained Selçuklu’s environmental and zero waste efforts in Portugal.

The Mayor of Selçuklu District in the center of Konya, Ahmet Pekyatırmacı, shared examples of good practices related to Environment and Zero Waste Management carried out by Selçuklu Municipality at the 23rd International Participatory Democracy Observatory (IOPD) Summit.

The 23rd International Participatory Democracy Observatory (IOPD) Summit was held in Valongo, Portugal. Representatives from different regions of the world, including UCLG-MEWA, participated in the event organized by IOPD. The event highlighted the critical role of participatory democracy in shaping local governance. Selçuklu Mayor Ahmet Pekyatırmacı gave a presentation about the projects carried out by Selçuklu Municipality in the panel titled “Environment, Cities, and Modern Issues.”

“We crowned our successes in zero waste with awards”

In his presentation, Mayor Pekyatırmacı provided information to the panelists about the Zero Waste Practices carried out by Selçuklu Municipality, including the collection of waste packaging, collection of batteries and electronic waste, collection of textile and medical waste, mobile waste collection center, composting efforts, the “My Waste Bin” project, educational activities, and the Selçuklu Second-Hand Market. Mayor Pekyatırmacı stated that Selçuklu Municipality earned the special sustainability category award in the “2023 Healthy Cities Best Practices Competition” organized by the Turkish Healthy Cities Association with the “Composting Project” due to its successful waste management efforts. He also shared that the “My Waste Bin” project was awarded the “Best Practice Award” by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change at the 3rd Zero Waste Summit, held on December 23, 2022, under the theme of “Climate and Youth.”

“We prevented the cutting of 85,600 trees and the emission of 4,534 tons of carbon annually”

Opening a special topic on the use of renewable energy sources during the panel, Mayor Pekyatırmacı stated, “As Selçuklu Municipality, we are investing in modern energy sources and conducting educational and awareness-raising activities regarding energy conservation. In terms of renewable energy, our municipality has solar power plants with a total installed capacity of 4080 kWe in our main service building, Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden, and Bağrıkurt Neighborhood. From these plants, 6 million 560 thousand kWh of solar energy is produced, meeting 88% of the electricity needs of all our facilities. Thus, we contribute to the sustainability of livable environmental conditions and the improvement of the region’s welfare level. In addition to the electricity produced, we have prevented the cutting of 85,600 trees and the emission of 4,534 tons of carbon annually.”

“We shared all the good practice examples we implemented in Zero Waste in Portugal”

After the session, Mayor Ahmet Pekyatırmacı made statements about the summit, saying, “At the International Democratic Participatory Observatory (IQPD) Summit in Portugal, we presented the Climate Resilience of Selçuklu Municipality. Our global agenda is now the environment and climate change. In this regard, we are carrying out numerous activities as Selçuklu Municipality. We are conducting significant works under the zero waste programs led by Ms. Emine Erdoğan. In this sense, we had the opportunity to share all the good practice examples we have implemented here in Portugal, in an environment where participants from different countries around the world were present. As Selçuklu Municipality, the environment is our greatest sensitivity, and we always strive to be a pioneer in this regard. We are conducting pioneering works. In this context, it was significant that we established the Zero Waste Department and created the environmental council, and implemented the zero waste platform with the participation of all segments of society. Again, we shared the “My Waste Bin” application, composting, educational activities we conducted at homes and schools, and other good practice examples related to recycling with the participants of the session here. We always prioritize the environment. We know that there are important works we need to do regarding climate change. God willing, we will continue our efforts in the strongest way as Selçuklu Municipality in the future.”