Bursa expands recycling capacity and women's employment initiatives

In Bursa, Turkey, efforts to bolster economic development through recycling and women's empowerment are expanding. The S. S. Yeşil Çevre Hizmet ve İşletme Kooperatifi operates a non-hazardous waste collection and sorting facility that processes approximately 720 tons of recyclable materials monthly, including paper, plastic, and metal. A new investment project, supported by a World Bank grant via BEBKA, has been approved to increase the facility's capacity with new machinery such as presses and conveyors. This expansion aims to create more employment opportunities, specifically targeting women and youth.

Additionally, the Yıldırım Municipality is supporting women's economic participation through various initiatives. Since 2021, the municipality has facilitated the establishment of 15 women's cooperatives—comprising both agricultural and commercial entities—and provides support through a Cooperatives Development Center. The municipality also operates YIL-MEK, a vocational training program with 33 centers offering 82 different branches of education to help women convert skills into economic value.