27 March 2025, Nairobi. – As part of our celebration of International Zero Waste Day we interviewed Mr. Samed Ağırbaş, President of Sıfır Atık Vakfı – the Zero Waste Foundation .
Please tell us about the Zero Waste Foundation / Sıfır Atık Vakfı?
The Zero Waste Foundation, or Sıfır Atık Vakfı in Turkish, is a foundation established in 2023 under the auspices of First Lady of Türkiye, Emine Erdoğan. The purpose of the foundation is to promote sustainability by minimizing waste production, maximizing recycling, and encouraging resource efficiency. The Foundation aims to change societal behavior globally regarding waste through education, awareness campaigns, and practical initiatives that engage global citizens, businesses, and institutions.
The Foundations vision is to establish a global circular economy in which waste is reduced to a minimum and materials are continuously reused or recycled. The Foundations goal aligns closely with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and Goal 13 (Climate Action). By promoting efficient waste management systems, Sıfır Atık Vakfı contributes to reducing environmental degradation, improving public health, and fostering sustainable urbanization.
In your opinion, why is it so important to make our cities more sustainable and to establish collaboration between the Zero Waste Foundation?
Forging relationships between the Foundation and international organizations are crucial because sustainability challenges are global in nature. Cities are hubs of economic and social activity and thus effective solutions require partnerships that connect local action with global expertise. Collaborations such as this allow access international best practices, scientific expertise, and technical guidance.
These partnerships enable scaling successful local initiatives to a global level. For example, through supporting UNEP’s engagement in the One Map platform, the Foundation can facilitate the collecting and aggregation of global geospatial mapping of waste management systems, supporting informed decision-making across cities.
Likewise, collaboration with UN-Habitat facilitates knowledge exchange on sustainable urban development, ensuring that zero waste strategies align with broader urban planning frameworks.
The Foundation is as well proud to be a supporter of the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board. The YAB plays a significant role in promoting youth engagement within these initiatives. By collaborating with youth leaders, the Foundation empowers young people to take an active role in creating and implementing zero waste strategies and promoting sustainable urban development.
What was your personal journey to becoming President of the Zero Waste Foundation?
My journey to the Foundation was rooted in my early engagement with youth and youth-led initiatives. As the president of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Youth Assembly, I became actively involved in promoting environmental awareness among young people. Our work focused on local campaigns addressing waste reduction, plastic-free initiatives, and community clean-up drives. These experiences highlighted the urgent need for waste management strategies that go beyond individual actions.
My subsequent involvement with UN-Habitat and UNEP provided opportunities to engage with global sustainability efforts. Through these experiences, I recognized that effective waste management required multi-stakeholder collaboration. This realization drew me to the Foundation, where I saw an opportunity to merge local activism with policy influence. By supporting the Foundation’s mission, I’ve been able to contribute to advancing a national strategy that is now inspiring other countries to adopt similar zero waste initiatives.
Why should young people pay attention to organizations such the Zero Waste Foundation?
Young people should work with Zero Waste Foundation because young partnership are vital to building a sustainable future. Waste management is not just an environmental issue; it directly impacts public health, economic opportunities, and social well-being. By engaging with zero waste initiatives, young people can contribute to reducing pollution, conserving resources, and mitigating climate change.
The Foundation actively encourages youth engagement through several platforms. For example, the initiative partners with schools, universities, and youth organizations to deliver educational programs on waste reduction. Additionally, young people can participate in waste audits, local clean-up campaigns, and advocacy efforts to influence policymakers.
Furthermore, initiatives like the “Youth Inclusion and Diversity Program,” which I previously led, have helped connect marginalized youth to environmental action, ensuring that their voices are heard in sustainability conversations. The UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board also serves as a vital platform for empowering young leaders. The YAB’s involvement ensures that youth voices are integrated into zero waste strategies and broader sustainability frameworks.
What would be your advice to young people who would like to see their city’s sustainability profile transformed, including waste management practices?
My advice to young people is to start small but think big. Sustainable transformation begins with individual and community-level actions that inspire broader systemic change. Here are some practical steps to consider:
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- Educate Yourself and Others: Understanding the environmental impacts of waste and the benefits of sustainable practices is crucial. Knowledge empowers individuals to adopt zero waste habits and share best practices with their communities.
- Engage in Local Action: Organizing or participating in community clean-up campaigns, recycling drives, or educational workshops can create immediate and visible impact.
- Advocate for Policy Change: Young people can play a powerful role in influencing local governments to adopt zero waste strategies. Joining youth advisory councils, like those I worked with in Istanbul and UN-Habitat’s Youth Advisory Board, provide opportunities to shape policy decisions.
- Build Partnerships: Collaborate with schools, businesses, and local authorities to develop innovative waste management solutions. Cross-sector partnerships are key to achieving lasting change.
Above all, persistence is essential. The transition to zero waste is challenging, but by maintaining a proactive and solution-oriented mindset, young people can effect significant change in their communities, countries and the world.
