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OPET Launches "Take Ownership of Waste!" Campaign

Turkchem 14 Aug 2025 33 2 dk okuma

OPET, which pioneered local rehabilitation efforts with its ‘Respect for Nature’ Project launched after the 2021 forest fires in the Aegean region, has turned its vision of protecting nature and the environment into a national movement aimed at preserving life. As a first step, OPET launched a nationwide “litter collection campaign” across Turkey starting on 15 August 2025 under the slogan “Respect Nature, Own Your Waste!” to highlight the role of litter in forest fires and make its damage to nature visible, and is calling on everyone to join the campaign.

Following the 2021 forest fires in the Aegean region, OPET pioneered local recovery efforts through its 'Respect for Nature' Project and transformed its vision of protecting nature and the environment into a nationwide movement aligned with the goal of protecting life. As a first step to highlight the role of waste in forest fires and make visible the damage it causes to nature, OPET launched a "waste collection mobilization" campaign across Turkey under the slogan "Respect Nature, Take Responsibility for Waste!" starting from 15 August 2025, and is calling on everyone to participate in this mobilization.

Aiming to build public awareness against forest fires, OPET has transformed the scope of the 'Respect for Nature' Project into a mobilization movement that will encompass all of Turkey. Led by OPET Board of Directors Founding Member Nurten Öztürk, the Respect for Nature Project, launched following the 2021 forest fires in the Aegean region, carried out "rehabilitation" work in Bayır and Osmaniye villages in Marmaris, Otmanlar in Köyceğiz, Çökertme, Gökbel and Bozalan in Milas, and created "OPET Forests" in various regions. The company is now expanding its vision of protecting nature and life into a nationwide movement that includes phases of "waste collection, vegetation clearing and afforestation."

Making the Damage Waste Causes to Nature Visible
Having taken the first steps of the project through ongoing rehabilitation of villages affected by the Aegean fires since 2022 and afforestation activities across Turkey, the company is launching a new phase of the Respect for Nature Project with a nationwide "Waste Collection Mobilization" starting from 15 August 2025. The mobilization, intended to encompass the entire country under the slogan "Respect Nature, Take Responsibility for Waste!" aims to highlight the role of waste in forest fires, make visible the damage waste causes to nature, create lasting changes in public behavior patterns, and protect life.

This mobilization, to be carried out with the participation of OPET stations, dealers, local administrations, volunteers and civil society organizations throughout the country, will organize waste collection events from coastlines to forests, from city centers to villages, drawing attention to the dangers that waste can create. The project will continue with subsequent phases covering vegetation clearing and afforestation activities, and plans to transform the waste collection event into a "traditional mobilization" by organizing it annually.

At the same time, OPET is calling on the entire country to participate in this campaign and inviting everyone to be mindful of waste in their own environments, collect it, and share photographs to spread this awareness using the hashtag #lifetakingresponsibilityforwaste.