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Izmit uses permaculture to advance circularity


9 Dec 2021


Izmit uses permaculture to advance circularity

Izmit, the first Turkish signatory of the European Circular Cities Declaration, has long been committed to address sustainability in effective ways. Its application of permaculture in the Kabaoğlu Social Facilities is a good example. The main purpose of permaculture is to create an ecological and sustainable system that is stable, taking environmental changes, the diversity of natural ecosystems and agricultural productivity into account. Permaculture can also be expressed as the whole of productive communities in which approaches relating the soil, annual and perennial plants, animals, microclimate, soil/water management and human needs are intertwined together.

Through its use of permaculture in the Kabaoğlu Social Facilities, Izmit is transforming waste into resources, aiming for the creation of an easy-to-care, sustainable and self-sufficient production structure that brings plants, animals and humans together. Although permaculture is mainly used on farms, it can be applied in many other environments such as houses, urban settlements, inner-city gardens, etc. Permaculture was developed in the 1970’s in response to the pollution and loss of biodiversity caused by traditional agriculture systems. Currently it is applied as a sustainable and ethical design method in food production, land use, and community building.

Aside from its use of permaculture, Izmit is also using education and awareness-raising to become a more circular city. The municipality organises solid waste management trainings for first and secondary school students in the province, and is placing recycling containers at schools, workplaces and separate points of the city. Currently, there are 1475 different recycling points in Izmit for packaging, glass, electronics, oil, textiles, plastic bottles and batteries. Through the Izmit Çınar Waste Mobile Application, citizens can locate the closest points and find information about the circular activities carried out by the City. The app helped Izmit become a candidate for the Transformative Action Award 2021.



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