We are 5 years ahead of America (Aydın Denge)

The RETEK company, which has been the only address for plastic and paper recycling in Nazilli, Aydın for 18 years, processes 6 truckloads of waste paper daily, bringing them back into recycling. The factory, which recycles 2,500 tons of paper monthly, is also proud to be the only company in Turkey engaged in plastic recycling.

Chairman of the Board of RETEK Cellulose Recycling Industry Trade Inc., Senior Mechanical Engineer Polat Güven, stated that the factory, established on an area of 10,000 square meters, provides employment for 45 people. He added that thanks to the factory, nearly 500 people in the paper and plastic collection sector in the region are provided with job opportunities, leading to significant developments in the scrap industry. Emphasizing that they are a specialized organization in recycling, Chairman Polat Güven said that Turkey is 10 years ahead of France and 5 years ahead of the United States in terms of recycling. Güven also noted that a fire broke out in the factory in 2009, and until then, they ranked second in the district’s tax records after UĞUR Cooling; “We pay nearly 3 million TL in Value Added Tax (VAT) annually,” he said.

600,000 TL INVESTMENT

Chairman Güven explained that many of the machines in the factory operate with heat and electric energy. Thanks to the Italian consultants employed in the workplace, they closely follow new technologies, and the innovations used in Europe are also applied in the factory. Güven said: “Here, we use coal with a very low sulfur content for heat energy, and emission measurements are carried out every 6 months by the Provincial Directorate of Environment. This means we do not harm the environment in any way. A few months ago, due to a malfunction in our chimney system, we informed the Environmental Directorate and shut down the system. Human health is also very important to us. For this reason, we purchased a fully automatic boiler system to eliminate risks from human error. With this massive investment of 600,000 TL, no environmental pollution occurs, and we are planning even larger investments in the future.”

STUDENTS ALSO GAIN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN RECYCLING

Mechanical Engineer Polat Güven stated that the company has extensive knowledge and experience in recycling. He explained that many schools in the region send their students to the factory to shed light on recycling lessons, and that students are informed about recycling by touring the factory.

CRITICIZED LACK OF INTEREST

Güven, reminding that there are 20–25 paper recycling factories in Turkey, emphasized that when it comes to both paper and plastic recycling, RETEK is the only such factory in the country. He expressed his criticism of the authorities’ lack of attention. Stating that the 10,000-square-meter factory is insufficient for them, Chairman Polat Güven said that they want to move to the Organized Industrial Zone but cannot find suitable land. He added: “We want to expand further and create more jobs. Despite being the only factory of its kind in Turkey, until today no official has ever knocked on our door to ask what we are doing here or what we are producing, and to listen to our problems, concerns, and requests. They are always preoccupied with finding outside investors. However, they never thought of supporting the local investors of this region and helping them grow further. I find this very concerning.”