Tea and Coffee Waste Gives Life to the Soil!

1)     Tea and Coffee Waste Gives Life to the Soil!

As part of the 2026 European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), under the theme “Resources Are Not Unlimited!” and the motto “Rethink Your Choices, Take Care of Resources!”, Çanakkale Municipality will carry out an awareness-raising initiative within the framework of the composting/recovery approach, focusing on the separate collection of organic waste at source, its recovery and reuse, and the reduction of single-use product consumption.

Within the scope of the initiative, the commercial area of Kemalpaşa Neighborhood, where cafés and coffee shops are concentrated, has been designated as the pilot area. With the support of the Climate Ambassadors Group, which operates on a voluntary basis within the Municipality, and the Kemalpaşa Neighborhood Headman’s Office, coffee shops in the area were visited and informed about the project, and opportunities for participation and cooperation were assessed. As a result of these meetings, approximately 25 businesses expressed their willingness to participate in the project.

As part of the project, special collection bins have been procured to enable the separate collection of used tea leaves and coffee grounds generated by participating businesses, and these bins are planned to be distributed to the businesses. The collected organic waste will be processed through the Municipality’s existing composting system, consisting of four compost bins manufactured in Çanakkale Municipality’s own workshops. In this system, which is already used to process organic waste generated by the Municipality’s social facilities, organic materials are regularly aerated and transferred between bins over a period of approximately four months to support the natural decomposition process. The compost obtained at the final stage is intended to be used for the maintenance of urban green spaces and urban greening activities. Through this initiative, the aim is to promote the separate collection and recovery of organic waste at source, expand existing composting activities through the participation of local businesses, and reuse organic waste as a resource in line with the principles of the circular economy.

During the meetings with businesses, positive feedback was also received regarding the reintroduction of the “Bring Your Own Cup, Enjoy Discounted Coffee” initiative, which had previously been implemented as part of the European Week for Waste Reduction. Some businesses also stated that they could offer discounts at certain rates to customers who bring their own reusable cups. By incorporating this initiative into the project, the aim is to reduce the consumption of single-use cups and encourage citizens to adopt sustainable consumption habits.

The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation among the local government, neighborhood headman’s office, volunteer Climate Ambassadors, and businesses; promote the recognition of organic waste as a resource; prevent waste generation; and encourage environmentally responsible consumption habits. The pilot initiative to be launched in the commercial area is intended to develop into a sustainable local implementation model that can be expanded to other neighborhoods and businesses in the future.