OMU Has Added Another Eco-Friendly Project with Its Composting Unit

Author: gturan | Date: March 27, 2025

Composting Unit Opened at OMU

Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) has taken another important step towards its sustainability goals by putting its Composting Unit into service.

At the opening ceremony attended by OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın, it was emphasized that another environmentally friendly project had been added to the university’s initiatives.

The ceremony was also attended by Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Yıldıray Topçu, Director of the Environmental Problems Research and Application Center (ÇEVSAM) Prof. Dr. Nurdan Gamze Turan, Head of the Zero Waste and Climate Change Department of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Ali Tulumen, Branch Manager Elif Özcan, Branch Manager of Environmental Management and Inspection at the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Governorship of Samsun Yılmaz Köksal, representatives from various institutions, members of the Environment Community, students and academics.

“We will continue to implement nature-friendly projects in line with our zero-waste policy”

Speaking at the opening, Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın stated that OMU is progressing on its path to becoming a green and sustainable university, saying: “Thanks to this project, we will contribute to environmental sustainability by recycling our organic waste. In line with our zero-waste policy, we will continue to implement nature-friendly projects.”

Prof. Dr. Turan: “We formalized our efforts with the Zero Waste Certificate”

ÇEVSAM Director Prof. Dr. Nurdan Gamze Turan noted that OMU established its Zero Waste Management System within the scope of the Zero Waste Regulation dated 12 July 2019 and obtained the “Basic-Level Zero Waste Certificate” on 29 July 2020. Emphasizing that all waste is separated at source, Prof. Dr. Turan stated that waste such as paper, plastic, glass and metal is sent for recycling through licensed companies.

“We are bringing our waste back into the economy through recycling”

Prof. Dr. Turan explained that there are six Temporary Waste Storage Areas and one Waste Collection Center within the university. She added that food waste is provided as feed for animal shelters at a wet pet food plant owned by Samsun Metropolitan Municipality under a cooperation protocol, while waste vegetable oils are collected by licensed companies.

With the Composting Unit, organic waste generated from dining halls, cafeterias, parks, gardens and animal feeding areas on campus will be converted into compost. The compost produced will be used in OMU’s landscaping works, thereby supporting a circular economy in waste management.

As part of its sustainability efforts, OMU continues to rise in the GreenMetric World University Rankings. While the university ranked 519th in 2021, it rose to 281st as of 2024. In the national ranking, it climbed to 25th place, securing its position among Türkiye’s most environmentally friendly universities.