Public institutions, local governments, academics and civil society representatives gathered in Kars to develop joint solutions to the city's environmental problems.
The workshop was held on 5 November 2026 at Kafkas University, coordinated by the Zero Waste Foundation. About 250 participants discussed the city's sustainability goals under 15 different headings.
The meeting was one of the zero waste workshops planned across all 81 provinces of Türkiye. Participants addressed the efficient use of resources, the prevention of waste and the improvement of waste management.
Proposals to Shape the Provincial Plan
The proposals raised at the workshop will form the basis of the Kars Provincial Zero Waste Target Document, which will be announced at a later stage.
Tacettin Erdağ, Deputy Mayor of Kars Municipality, said the municipality aims to set up a waste drop-off centre and carry out a solid waste facility project.
Enver Aydın, Kars Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, pointed to the city's pasture area of about 418,000 hectares. He stressed the importance of protecting natural resources in agriculture and livestock farming.
Topics discussed at the workshop included climate change, water management, agriculture, food, plastic waste, energy and the transformation of transport.
Prof. Dr. Selçuk Ural, Deputy Rector of Kafkas University, said scientific knowledge and public participation must come together. He called for the proposals to be turned into concrete projects.
Rahmi Toktaş, Kars Provincial Director of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, said zero waste is not limited to recycling. He noted that it also covers the protection of natural resources and the prevention of waste.
The results of the workshop will be presented at a later results conference, held under the auspices of the Kars Governorship. The Provincial Zero Waste Target Document is intended to guide Kars' work on the environment, climate and sustainability.
