Teams under the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Department carry out full-time sea surface and coastal cleaning operations throughout the year.
The sea sweeper, operating under the Maritime Services and Inspection Branch Directorate, collects waste from the sea surface in its tank using a conveyor system. Fiber boats conduct cleaning in narrow areas inaccessible to the sweeper. Land-based waste, mostly composed of plastics, is collected through various methods and sent to disposal facilities.
The teams collect floating debris with porous nets at various points, including Çamlıbel Fishing Harbor, Atatürk Park, Adnan Menderes Boulevard, and Mersin Marina, at different times of the day. Solid and liquid waste from restaurant boats at Çamlıbel Fishing Harbor is also recorded under the licensed Blue Card system by the Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization.
“We collect 60 tons of waste from the sea surface annually”
Pelin Teymur, a ship captain working at the Environmental Protection and Control Department, stated that they conduct daily cleaning in Mersin’s seas: “Our sea sweeper fills its 4-cubic-meter waste tank daily using the conveyor system. All collected waste is sent to disposal facilities. Our fiber boats clean rocky areas and between boats manually with scoops.”
Teymur noted that under the Blue Card system, they collect approximately 120 cubic meters of domestic wastewater annually: “The waste collected by Denizkızı A.Ş., affiliated with Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, from beaches during the season amounts to 60-70 tons. Over five years, we have sent over 600 tons of waste for disposal. However, collecting marine debris alone is not the solution. What matters is preventing waste from reaching the sea at its source. We urge our citizens to be more conscientious.”
In addition to cleaning efforts, the teams organize awareness campaigns and informational activities to prevent marine pollution. Metropolitan Municipality officials invite Mersin residents to dispose of their waste in trash bins and recycling points to enhance environmental awareness.
