Efforts to develop technical cooperation are continuing as part of the long-standing sister-city relationship between Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality and Rennes in France. In this context, a technical delegation from Rennes Municipality visited Diyarbakır to examine the Metropolitan Municipality’s solid waste management system on site, exchange experience and assess potential areas for joint work between the two municipalities.

The delegation comprised Simon Letonturier, Head of the International Relations Department at Rennes Municipality; Marie Neuschwander, Head of the Waste Management Department; and Benoît Guigue, Facilities and Reuse Officer. During their visit, the delegation met with the relevant municipal departments and received briefings on their ongoing work.

Technical Knowledge and Experience Exchange Between Sister Cities

The visit aims to assess Diyarbakır’s existing solid waste management system from a technical perspective, share examples of good practice and identify new areas for cooperation between the two municipalities in line with sustainable environmental policies. Meetings with the relevant departments and on-site inspections are intended to strengthen the sister-city relationship through joint initiatives in waste management.

Waste Management Practices Examined on Site

As part of the technical visit, the delegation visited the Department of Climate Change and Zero Waste and the Agroecology Climate School. They also inspected the pilot waste-sorting site in Kayapınar and the Kayapınar Waste Collection Centre.

The delegation further visited recycling and waste oil facilities, the Medical Waste Disposal Facility, the Construction and Excavation Waste Disposal Site, the Mardin and Karacadağ Waste Transfer Stations, and the Biogas Plant. The programme also included visits to the Dicle Uncontrolled Waste Disposal Site, the Ergani Transfer Station and Sümerpark Solar House.

During the site visits, the delegation examined practices relating to waste collection, transport, sorting, recovery and disposal. The technical capacities and infrastructure of the facilities were assessed, along with the needs involved in improving the existing system.

Joint Efforts Towards Sustainable Waste Management

Following the technical inspections, the aim is to review the delegation’s observations and assessments together with the relevant departments of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality. These assessments will help identify potential joint initiatives between the two municipalities in solid waste management.

Cooperation opportunities will be explored in areas including waste sorting at source, the development of recycling and reuse practices, improvements to waste management infrastructure, capacity-building for technical staff and efforts to strengthen environmental awareness.