CTBCA Accelerated The Management And Recycling Of Construction Wastes

The Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors’ Association undertook the responsibility of “Management and Recycling of Excavation, Demolition and Construction Wastes” and held an informative meeting to share the works carried out with experts and authorities with related parties and exchange opinions. The Project, which the representatives of the relevant public institutions and many non-governmental organizations and environmental organizations were interested, was non-profit and it was announced that the income from the project would be spent rehabilitating the nature damage.

The Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association undertook the responsibility of “Management and Recycling of Excavation, Demolition and Construction Wastes” and held an informative meeting to share the works carried out with experts and authorities with related parties and exchange opinions.

GÜRCAFER: ‘’THE POLLUTER CLEANS UP!’’

Chairman Cafer Gürcafer, who made the opening speech at the meeting held on March 9, 2017, between 10.00 – 12.30 hours at CTBCA Central Building, Şevket Abohorlu Conference Hall, emphasized the importance of the management and recycling of construction wastes, they felt a great responsibility with the logic of ‘’the polluter cleans up.’’

Gürcafer, who gives examples from the countries that have achieved success in terms of recycling in the world, told us that in our country, it is necessary to create awareness in this issue and that universities and the state have great duties in terms of raising the public awareness.

‘’QUARRY PROBLEMS SHOULD BE DICIPLINED’’

Gürcafer:

“For years we have had a serious problem with our quarry in our country, everyone is aware of it. The view created by the stone quarries is very disturbing. The recycling of construction waste and the gaining these to economy again are very important both in terms of energy consumption and not consuming our mountains. Imagine that if we can recycle and use 2 million tons of construction waste, this is possible, your aggregate need will be decrease evenly. Decreasing the need for aggregate means that the stones and the mountains are not broken. As part of this project, we want to discipline the problem of the quarries and make sure that nature over time treats itself. “

“INCOME WILL BE USED IN NATURE’S TREATMENT” 

‘’There will be 5 to 6 collection centers, where construction waste will be collected and transported to the center for recycling. Then, certain applications will be made and perhaps they will be reutilized in a compulsory manner.

The income from the use of recycled materials will be used for greening, afforestation and treating the damage we give to nature. In other words, this project is not a profit-making project, it is a project to completely protect the environment and to prevent damage.

Of course, our district governorships and municipalities have a huge role because we can put this project in practice. ”

EU MISSION CHIEF BIANCIARDI: “ALLOCATED FUND FOR WASTE ADMINISTRATION IS REACHED TO 32 AND HALF MILLIONS”.

Speaking after the Chairman of the CTBCACaferGürcafer, EU Mission Chief Alessandro Bianciardi gave information about EU activities related to the solid waste sector in Cyprus.

Informing that the European Union’s basic approach to waste is based on the priorities set for waste management, Bianciardi said it was prevention at waste generation, waste reutilizing, recycling and recovery.

Bianciardi stated that the reuse of all the waste materials is aimed, and that construction waste can be recycled back to the economy by recycling all the waste materials.

Bianciardi gave the knowledge that the EU’s funding for waste management in the context of the support and assistance to the Turkish Cypriot community, the fund has reached 32 and half million euros in the last 10 years.

“GÜNGÖR STORAGE AREA IS FILLING RAPIDLY”

Bianciardi continued as follows:

“In support of the Turkish Cypriot community, we provided support for specialist support and infrastructure investments in the preparation of an integrated waste plan. One of them is Dikmen dumping site and the other is Güngör storage area. We also provide financing support for the development of the current state of Güngör storage area.

We also provide equipment support for the works carried out by municipalities on waste management and recycling.

At this moment, a new grant for the Municipalities is being prepared. In this context, a resource of 4.8 million Euros was allocated. ”

Bianciardi stated that the first cell of Güngör storage area is about to be filled and added “when we consider the filling speed of Güngör storage area, waste management and recycling urgency are seen. At this point, construction and rubble wastes should be recycled as soon as possible. ”

Bianciardi ended his speech by thanking CTBCA for taking the initiative in this regard.

UNDERSECRETARY OF MINISTRY OFTOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT ARKIN: ‘’WE PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES BY RECYCLING’’

The Undersecretary Bülent Arkın, who gave information on the protocol signed between CTBCA and Ministry of Tourism and Environment for the recycling of construction waste, said that the aim is to recover the wastes from the construction.

Arkın said, “The protocol aims to transport all the wastes that we intend to establish in the Ercan Airport area. In recycling, the first thing that comes to mind is that we can protect our natural resources by recycling waste. Arkın, “While the most natural resource sector is the construction sector, the recycling of construction waste is becoming more important.”

We do not live in an environment that is desired in Northern Cypru We were late making some steps. He emphasized the importance of using the criminal factor as well as awareness raising activities for the protection of the environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER VEYSİOĞLU: ‘’THE MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IS INSPECTION’’

Environmental Engineer Doğuç Veysioğlu gave information about the “Water / Wastewater and Solid Waste Sector Capacity Development Project Phase 2 Studies” conducted by the EU at the meeting held at CTBCA Şevket Abohorlu Conference Hall and emphasized the importance of solid waste management for our country and our society.

That the CTBCA requested the duties and authorities related to the management of construction waste and that this authorization was obtained with the protocol signed between the Union and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

When they learned that the Contractors’ Union was involved in the design of construction wastes, Veysioğlu said that they had started to set up a working group to further mobilize the project and to actualize the project they started to identify the needs.

Veysioğlu said:

“One of the most important requirements is legislation. That’s why we started a regulation work. We shared the regulation that we drafted with the Ministry of Environment.

In addition, a technical expert was appointed under the leadership of the Contractors’ Association. Our project was also supported by financial analysis and feasibility studies. As a result of all these efforts, a concrete project will emerge.

In order to be able to work on the project we are designing, we have to actualize some basic principles, the most important of which is the supervision.

In addition, the entry of these wastes into the Güngör storage facility must either be banned or taxed in a serious manner.   In the process of allowing construction permission, the opinion of the waste manager must be taken. ”

SOLID WASTE EXPERT WHITMANN: “BUILDING CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION, UNDERTAKES THE LEADERSHIP DUTY”

“We are glad to see that the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association has taken the leadership role in terms of construction and rubble waste,” said Andy Whitmann, a solid waste specialist who says there are many types of waste and that a global management plan needs to be developed.

Emphasizing the need to act quickly on waste management, Whitmann said we have the brain power and technology which are needed to move.   Whitmann explains that his goal is to come up with a project that come back to earth, and underlined that this is feasible.

Whitmann stated that the first cell of the Güngör storage facility is about to be filled, added that it is not acceptable to bring usable materials to this facility.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AND SOLID WASTE EXPERT PARALİK: ‘’THERE IS NO ATTRIBUTION ON WASTES IN LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Environmental Engineer and Solid Waste Expert Sibel Paralik, who carried out studies on the technical report of the project on behalf of theBuilding Contractors Association, shared technical information about the project at the informing meeting about “Excavation, Demolition and Management and Recycling of Construction Wastes”.

Stating that certain incentives should be created to make the project viable and sustainable and certain legal regulations must be made, Paralik criticized there is neither the Environmental Law nor any specific reference to waste in regulations.

The project which is being carried out by Paralik on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors, is integrated with the EU office, Paralik said that the project prepared the theoretical researches and suggestions on waste quantities, regional distribution of waste, alternatives in management plan, location and transfer centers and technology of recycling facilities.

“GÖNYELİ, MORMENEKŞE, ALSANCAK AND ESENTEPE WELL AHEAD!”

Paralik shares statistical data on regional distribution of construction waste, “Gönyeli in Lefkoşa, Mormeneke in Famagusta and Alsancak and Esentepe in Girne are clearly ahead according to the year 2014 data. There are potential locations for transfer stations or mini-facilities around here, “he said.

Paralik’s words ended by saying that it was an achievement that should be appreciated for the CTBCA to take this initiative as a non-governmental organization and bring its work to this stage.