REWA Anatolia – Recycling and Waste Management Fair and Conference, where future sustainable technologies were exhibited, opened its doors to visitors at TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center in Adana between 15-17 February 2024. Adana Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, who attended the opening of the fair that brings together the public, local and private sectors, said, “Officially 60 percent of the recycling industry in Turkey and unofficially 80 percent is located in Adana. According to TUIK figures last year, as a country, we produced 29.4 million tons of waste, 109 million of which was hazardous. Local governments need to take action on this issue as soon as possible. It is necessary to separate these wastes and turn them into natural resources, abandoning wild storage. This waste fair REWA Anatolia will provide that. " said.
REWA Anatolia – Recycling and Waste Management Fair and Conference, held at TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center in Adana between 15-17 February 2024, was opened to visitors with the official opening ceremony. REWA Anatolia, where more than 80 participating companies and hundreds of brands exhibited their latest technology products and services and more than 5 industry professionals from around the world are expected to visit, attracted great attention on its first day. Adana Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, Republic of Kosovo Regional Development Minister Fikrim Damka, Adana Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Cafer Boyraz, TOBB Board Member and Adana Chamber of Industry Chairman Zeki Kıvanç, Çukurova University Rector Prof. attended the opening ceremony of the fair. Dr. Meryem Tuncel, Head of the Turkic Republics Delegation Elvira Borombaeva, REWA ANATOLIA Chief Executive Officer Ebru Can and many professional and environmental organizations, participants, company representatives and visitors attended.
International Procurement Delegations are at REWA Anatolia
Delivering the welcome speech, REWA Anatolia Chief Executive Officer Ebru Can started her speech by thanking all sector stakeholders for embracing REWA Anatolia, Adana's first recycling and waste fair and conference. Announcing that they hosted high-level Procurement delegations from Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Hungary and the Middle East because they wanted REWA Anatolia to have an international identity in its first year, Can said, "For many years, waste has been perceived as a garbage problem not only in our country but all over the world and has not been a value and value." It has just started to reach the point where it can be accepted as a raw material. Our country is one of the countries that has made the fastest progress in this regard. Although there is still a long way to go, the point reached in recycling plastic waste, especially in Adana, is admirable. During these three days, you will have the opportunity to see the leading companies of the sector operating in this field at our fair. In addition, we think that workshops and workshops will attract a lot of attention, as well as conferences where we will discuss important and critical issues. "We have exhibitions that we would definitely recommend you to visit, and theater shows that will be staged at our fair for our future children." he said.
“Unofficially 80 percent of the recycling industry in Turkey is located in Adana.”
Speaking at the official opening ceremony of REWA Anatolia, Adana Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger said that according to TÜİK figures last year, as a country; He said that 29,4 million tons of waste were produced, 109 million of which were hazardous, and that officially 60 percent of the recycling sector in Turkey and unofficially 80 percent were located in Adana. Pointing out that our country also imports garbage from abroad, especially from Adana, Köşger said, “Waste is also a raw material and a natural resource. It needs to be transformed. Local governments need to take action on this issue as soon as possible. It is necessary to separate these wastes, abandon their wild storage, and turn them into natural resources. We also need to cut this import. This is what this waste fair REWA Anatolia will provide. We must realize the circular economy model in every field. We need to separate our waste and not pollute nature. We did not inherit nature from our ancestors. “We borrowed it from our children and we must leave it to our children in a better way.” said.
“The closest country to lead us in the Balkans is the Republic of Turkey.”
Speaking at the opening of the REWA Anatolia Fair and Conference, which brings the sector together with local, regional and international markets, Fikrim Damka, Minister of Regional Development of the Republic of Kosovo, stated that the Republic of Kosovo is a young country, that it has newly created its legislation and that it carries out zero waste renewable energy issues within the framework of certain contracts. and “When we look at the entire Balkans, we need countries and businessmen who will lead us and stand by us in solidarity. In this sense, the closest country that will lead us geographically is the Republic of Turkey. It should lead us in recycling. Hopefully, today we will closely monitor these works carried out by both the private sector, the state and municipalities. We will work to ensure its transfer to our own countries. Every country has to do its part not only in zero waste projects but also in renewable energy. It wouldn't make sense for just one country to do it. We can only save our world if we do it simultaneously with the world. That's why I propose to businessmen from REWA Anatolia, our chambers of commerce, our universities, Kosovo and the Balkans to cooperate on this recycling issue.”.
“We have prepared our sustainable energy and climate change action plan”
Speaking on behalf of Adana Metropolitan Municipality, one of the supporters and strategic partners of the fair, Deputy Mayor Cafer Boyraz explained the work done by the municipality. He said that Adana Metropolitan Municipality has initiated the transition to electric buses within the framework of alternative and green transformation in transportation, the number of electric buses, which is 6 today, will increase to 50, and a total of 4 thousand 740 solar energy panels have been installed on the roofs of the buildings belonging to the institutions. Noting that they will build a 150 megabyte solar power plant in the coming period, Boyraz said, “With this power plant, we will cover our current electricity expense of 65 million, as well as increase our power to serve the public by generating an income of 65 million lira. As a metropolitan municipality, we continue our efforts to reduce the effects of climate change. We have to protect water, soil and atmosphere for our children. We prepared our sustainable energy and climate change action plan. "A commitment has been made to take the necessary measures within the framework of the EU's 2030 percent greenhouse gas reduction target by 40 and to adopt a common approach to direct the fight against climate change." said.
“Donations will be collected for the Children's Kindness Center, which helps children affected by the earthquake, through REWA Anatolia exhibitions.”
Çukurova University Rector Prof. focused his speech on the earthquake disaster we experienced on February 6, 2023. Dr. Meryem Tuncel said, “The great earthquake disaster that shook our country taught us that we can overcome all difficulties with solidarity, love and hope. And as a university, we turned to hope and to be hope without wasting any time. We implemented the idea of establishing a child welfare center for our children who lost their limbs in the earthquake, with the cooperation and support of many institutions and organizations. We currently have 143 children whose lives we have touched. We will not leave our children alone until the age of twenty-one, including all their rehabilitation, psychological and physical therapy, and educational support. Hosted by REWA Anatolia, our very valuable artist Ms. Sema Akbel prepared an exhibition from industrial waste, and thanks to the efforts of journalist Belkıs Aktürk, this exhibition was opened to visitors today at this fair. All proceeds from here will be donated to the Children's Wellbeing Center. “We thank everyone who contributed and supported us.” she said.
“Recycling fairs like REWA Anatolia are very important for us”
He continued: "Turkey appears to be the country that will be most negatively affected, after China and Russia, from the moment the European Union implements the Border Carbon Regulatory Mechanism Regulation in 2026." Starting by saying, TOBB Board Member and Adana Chamber of Industry Chairman Zeki Kıvanç said, “More than 50 percent of our exports are to European Union countries. Complying with the EU Green Deal and its obligations is of vital importance for all companies that want to export. We have no choice but to keep up with these in order to increase our business and have a say in the future. Recycling fairs like REWA Anatolia should now be at our headquarters. "Hopefully, we can now have the opportunity to seize the opportunities we previously missed in the industry by adapting to the green transformation." said. Kıvanç said that our world is in a significant change and transformation caused by climate and technology; He added that green agreement, carbon footprint, water footprint, circular economy, recycling, farm-to-fork strategy, carbon market and sustainability are a few of them.
“We are here for cooperation as a Procurement Delegation of 25 people from the Turkic Republics”
Head of the Turkic Republics Delegation, Elvira Borombaeva, who attended REWA Anatolia from Kyrgyzstan, where B3B meetings will take place with industry professionals and delegations from around the world for 2 days, said that their aim is to establish new collaborations and continued as follows: “We are also in the energy sector and different industrial sectors.” As private sector representatives, we are here at REWA Anatolia. Our delegation of approximately 25 people also includes the deputy director and team of our investment agency affiliated with our Presidency. We have a great responsibility to leave this world, our countries, our ecology and our climate with great responsibility to the next generations. I hope great projects will arise from our cooperation. Waste and recycling is a very new field for Kyrgyzstan. That's why we have a long road ahead of us. There are great potentials. "Let's hopefully implement them together."
“An Upcycling Fashion Show” took place at REWA Anatolia
"An Upcycling Fashion Show", which took place right after the opening of the first day of REWA Anatolia Fair, gave participants and visitors colorful moments. Participants and visitors experienced a sustainable fashion feast with the fashion show where Zeliha Sunal's designs prepared using paper, metal, plastic and textile waste were exhibited. Thus, attention was drawn to the high amount of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions caused by overproduction caused by the growing desire for fashion and consumption, called fast fashion, which has fueled excessive consumption, especially in recent times. Later, the stands were visited and inspected by the protocol.
More than 15 expert speakers take part in 50 sessions
Solis Fuarcılık ve Danışmanlık Hizmetleri A.Ş. Conferences and B2B meetings that are closely followed by the industry take place at REWA Anatolia Fair, organized by. During the events and meetings, important issues such as the restoration of soil, hydrosphere, coastal and urban areas and the adoption of circular economy principles, especially in sectoral supply chains, for the revitalization of the ecological structure are discussed. More than 50 high-level regional, national and international speakers who are experts in their fields will attend the REWA Anatolia Conference and 15 sessions will be held. On the first day, there will be 4 sessions titled "Sustainable Economy, Zero Carbon Footprint, Recycling and Waste Management", "The Place of the Recycling Industry in Turkish Industry", "Green Transformation in OIZ" and "Carbon and Water Footprint, Energy Production from Organic Waste" happened.
REWA Anatolia – Recycling and Waste Management Fair and Conference can be visited free of charge at TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center in Adana until February 17.