Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Department has achieved a significant success in the international arena with its work carried out within the scope of environmentally friendly and sustainable city policies. The Muğla Circular Construction and Demolition Waste Management and Recovery Model Project was among the projects that made it to the finals within the scope of the 2026 Local Sustainability Award organized by ICLEI Europe and the European Committee of Regions.
The project, which was selected for the final evaluation, which included projects from Italy, Portugal and Turkey, brought Muğla's sustainability efforts to the international platform with its model based on the management of construction and demolition wastes without harming the environment and their reintroduction to the economy.
CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTES ARE BENEFITED BACK INTO THE ECONOMY
Within the scope of the project, construction and demolition waste brought to the facility is separated and processed through recycling processes without harming the environment. Processed waste; Recycled aggregate, filling and infrastructure materials are transformed into new products that can be used in road construction and various superstructure applications. This system aims to reduce the environmental impacts of construction and demolition waste, as well as limit the use of natural resources, reduce the amount of waste and include recycled materials in the regeneration cycle.
A MODEL THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY
The model implemented by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality ensures that waste is transformed into a reusable resource instead of just being disposed of. Thus, while contributing to reducing the need for natural raw materials, the circular economy approach in which resources are used more efficiently is supported.
Stating that they carry out studies that protect the environment, ensure the efficient use of resources and make waste valuable again, Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Aras said:
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE EXAMPLE WORKS"
"Muğla is a very special city that has been entrusted to us with its unique nature. We are working to preserve this trust and leave a more livable city to future generations. With this understanding, we carry out works that protect the environment, use our resources correctly and make waste valuable again. It is very valuable for us that our project reached the final in Europe and that the steps we took in Muğla received international response. At the Mediterranean Climate Summit we recently organized in Muğla, we brought together local governments and international organizations from different countries. "We demonstrated the common will of the cities on the way to COP31. Today, our project's inclusion in the finals among Europe's most successful sustainability projects is an important reward for the concrete steps we have taken in this process. We will continue to produce sustainable and exemplary works that are compatible with nature for the future of our city."
By making it to the finals of the 2026 Local Sustainability Award, the project also increased the visibility of Muğla's work in the field of environment and sustainability on an international scale. Muğla's project, which represented Turkey in the final evaluation along with projects from Italy and Portugal, is an example of the role that local governments can undertake in climate and environmental policies.
