FROM `ASİTANE` TO MUNICIPALITY

Throughout the history, neither of cities has experiences such a fast and continuous change at every area as Istanbul had, and none has been exposed to such a change to Metropolitan (Buyuksehir)- Asitane. To put it more clearly, it is Istanbul’s fate to continuously change and transform. This city, which was established on the intersection point as a capital of the oldest culture and civilization of the ancient world continents, has to sustain its career of being a capital city today as it has been sustaining throughout the centuries.
This position of Istanbul makes determinant at each area and active at each instant of its historical adventure tracing back to 2 thousand 700 years started with the settlement of Migraine immigrants at Sarayburnu in 658 BC. Istanbul is like the peek darkness of night, and the brilliant glamour of day; it does not adopt the color of culture, civilization and political structure which it is a part of; it paces one step before the culture, civilization and political will which it is a part of event on its most troublesome days.
In fact, this issue which makes Istanbul Istanbul and denotes it as unique among other cities brings together with it various problems in addition to the positive innovations in line with the central and local administrations’ adoption of change and transformation process.
Isn’t Costantinopolis' opening its arms to Turks on Tuesday morning of 29 May 1453 is the result of Byzantine’s outmoded understanding of administration as well as Fatih’s willingness and determination of conquest? Can we deny that Istanbul’s memory as the gate of happiness throughout the centuries is the result of Fatih’s trans-century understanding of freedom, secularity and administration, promulgating to Orthodox public, who could not intimidate “seeing cone of cardinal in Hagia Sophia”, that: “you are free to live howsoever you believe to”?
As the inheritors of great ancestors who enacted laws and allocated funds for solving the sheltering, nutrition and health problems of migrant birds in the foundation notes issued centuries ago, how can we justify the destruction of untended animals which we witness everyday?
Huge problems that we used to experience up to seven years ago, neighborhoods established during a night, lack of water supply, uncollected garbage, jammed traffic, Golden Horn and the Bosporus which become dump areas, streets longing for green and lots of troubles…Are these anything else than the inability of those who have been administering this monumental city to catch the change and adopt the transformation?

ISTANBUL – NOW AND IN THE PAST

You, like anyone with whom we share the city life, would also express that Istanbul has been experiencing a great change and transformation during recent years at every area and at all extents.
Istanbul of today is not what is had been in the past.
The Metropolitan Municipality, which plans the today of our city and inhabitants yesterday, and designs our tomorrow today, creates a new project every day for creating a worth living environment despite all hindrances and negative things encountered, and they lay the foundation of a brand new investment. Putting into service a new facility almost every day, they facilitate the lives of Istanbul inhibitants, make them beautiful.
Istanbul of today is not what is had been in the past.
Hills of garbage do not raise at every street corner anymore which once made Istanbul inhabitants migrate to holiday sites; garbage drums do not scatter disease and microbe around anymore. Construction debris are not discharged haphazardly to water reservoirs, garbage trucks do not pour the solid wastes to green areas randomly. Now the garbage dump areas are not laying inside the residential areas; no more are there garbage explosions in Istanbul which once were the nightmares of nearby populations and cost tens of lives.
Istanbul of today is not what is had been in the past.
Trees, flowers and grass which made Istanbul Istanbul have been saved from being unguarded for the last eight years. Places of trees which are dismantled and the groves that become concrete for whatever the cause is are not let free anymore. Soil is not let long for green, nor the green is let strive for soil. Thousands, ten thousands, eben hundred thousands of mature trees are planted overall Istanbul every year. Flowers are cultivated under the shadow of trees, grass is greened at the surroundings of flowers.
Istanbul is not anymore the Istanbul of eight years ago. As its today is different and more beautiful from its yesterday, its tomorrow will be different and more beautiful from its today. Because, to put it with the general saying, Metropolitan (Municipality) is in charge...
Metropolitan is in charge and Istanbul changes more or less everyday.

NOW THERE IS İSTAÇ ...

New administration of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality which you have elected with your votes on 27 March 1994, puts a giant project into service in the area of Environmental Protection, Cleaning and Utilizing Solid Waste Materials, as it does in many other fields.
The task of collecting and storing at adequate area of solid wastes, which has been haphazardly performed by a directorate that had various names under the municipality organization up to that date is undertaken under the name of “Solid Waste Project” by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. A new legal structuring is completed in order to launch and put into life the project.
Title and subject of operation of Istanbul Gas, Water and Solid Fuel Distribution Industry and Trade Corporation, which was established as an Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality undertaking on 03.08.1987 with a capital of 1.000.000.000 TL with the aim of purchasing, distributing, selling and processing electricity with the name ELDAS, which subsequently changed its name to IGSUDAS with an amendment on 12.07.1994, are rearranged on 28.12.1994 .
Within the scope of Solid Waste Project of the Metropolitan Municipality, the company which took the name ISTAC CO. has been organized and launched its investments and services with the aim of ;
- Grouping various solid wastes previously denoted and collected under the general name “garbage” according to the danger they pose on the environment and human health under the following titles
Domestic Wastes
Medical Wastes
Dangerous Wastes, and
Construction wastes and debris
which will be collected at production points, standards will be created for collection, transportation, packaging and disposing,
* transportation and collection of domestic wastes,
* compost fertilizer production from wastes, recycling ,
* safe disposal with regular storing, without damaging the nature;
* generating electrical energy from solid wastes accumulated on landfills,
* transportation and disposal through incineration of medical wastes;
* supply of trees, seedling, flowers, their planting and upkeep
* establish and operate facilities relevant to its area of operation

FROM DUMPSITES TO LANDFILLS

Since 28.12.1994 when it was established, İSTAÇ Co., puts into service various project which can be sorted under the title “Environment Protection” throughout the period that has elapsed. Tens of investments part of which are being constructed will be completed and put into service soon.
In this regard:
• It launches “Medical Waste Project” in September 1995. Within this project, medical wastes which used to be disposed together with other wastes are separated from other wastes, subjected to a separate process and collected in a specific manner.
* It starts to create healthy and sanitary landfill within 1995,
* Kömürcüoda/Karakiraz Sanitory Landfill has been prepared on Anatolian side and put into service .
* Abolishes in December 1995 the wild dump areas which has become the nightmares of Istanbul inhabitants over years

• In order to disposal the solid waste material collected by District Municipalities to Regular Storing Fields after decreasing their volume, 5 Solid Waste Transfer Stations were established at following locations
* In Yenibosna and Tuzla in May 1995,
* In Halkali in October 1995,
* In Umranie in June 1996 ,
* In Sisli in July 1996
* Aforestation campaigns in line with the “Aforestation Project” were prepared for three years starting from 1997 tree planting season, which campaigns were put into practice by Park and Gardens Directorate of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
* It has undertaken the management of Compost and Recovery Plant which processes and produces compost of one tones of garbage daily, and of Plant of Electric Generation from Garbage Gas.