Gökçeada, an island in Türkiye’s Çanakkale province, faces growing environmental pressure from single-use plastics, especially during the tourist season when waste generation nearly doubles. Limited waste management infrastructure and high seasonal population make a comprehensive, sustained approach essential to protect the island’s biodiversity and promote sustainable practices.
The project aims to reduce single-use plastics in Gökçeada through a specific action plan based on surveys and comparative analyses. It relies on consultation with local stakeholders (authorities, NGOs, businesses and citizens) through participatory meetings and workshops.
A wide-ranging awareness campaign will target children, residents, tourists, shopkeepers and teachers through workshops, social media posts, public announcements and educational programmes.
The project also includes the renovation of five drinking water fountains to provide a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles. New water points will be installed near schools, accompanied by filtration systems in three schools and information sessions for pupils.
Finally, awareness-raising stands at festivals will inform visitors about the impact of single-use plastics. All these actions aim to reduce plastic pollution and strengthen the island’s environmental sustainability in the long term.
