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OneCarbon & Sustainability |
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JULY 2009
The Mamak landfill chosen as the World Bank's best environmental project
The projects OneCarbon is involved in generally aim to have a real impact not only on the environment but also on the society and the economy of the region. Mamak is a perfect example of a project that focuses on environmental, economic, as well as social sustainability. That is why it was chosen as the World Bank's best environmental project.
Concerning the project, some of the social activities, such as the construction of an educational café, are directly enabled through sale of carbon credits. Thus, purchasing recently issued Gold Standard VERs coming from this project will thus not only contribute to solving climate change issues, but also benefit the local economy and society.
VERs available now!
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Link to press article: 'World Bank sees future in a dump'
Background |
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People on average generate garbage at an astonishing rate of 1 to 2 kilograms per person per day. In many developing countries it is common practice to dump waste at a disposal site, or landfill. The anaerobic degradation of organic waste at these landfill sites generates and releases methane gas, which has a greenhouse effect 21 times more powerful than that of CO2.
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| For more than 20 years the waste of 4 million people living in the city of Ankara in Turkey was stored in an uncontrolled manner. Besides the negative climate change effects, the residues caused environmental and social issues such as air pollution, strong odors, health risks and even potential explosions. Another considerable social problem were the scavengers, people who pick out recyclable elements from mixed waste. These people were exposed to dangers such as being buried under waste piles and even poisoning. In some incidences this would lead to fatal accidents. |
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Five years ago, the Ankara Governorship, being aware of the problematic situation, launched the “Collection and Elimination of Landfill Gas Program”. The firm ITC (Invest Trading & Consulting) was selected to rehabilitate the Mamak Solid Waste Landfill, and two other landfill sites. All in all, in 2006, ITC started to develop the Mamak project and OneCarbon was appointed to ensure it was taken through the Gold Standard registration cycle. The project is nowadays finalized, registered, and currently generating Gold Standard carbon credits. |
| Covering the whole sustainability cycle |
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In terms of environmental sustainability, the project reduces the impact on climate change through the reduction of methane (and thus CO2) emissions. No less than 500,000 tons of CO2e will be cut annually through this technology. In addition, the risk of gas explosions has been reduced and the air quality has improved drastically around the landfill site. Moreover, a Waste Water Treatment System that improves the soil condition has been installed and 4,500 trees have been planted around the landfill area. Finally, all the heat coming from the gas is brought to recently built greenhouses making possible the cultivation of tomatoes.
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| Regarding economic sustainability, various remarks can be made. Firstly, the Mamak project has led to the creation of 200 new jobs A number of scavengers were included in this job plan, enabling them to be taken up into the regular social system. Moreover, the project has a capacity of 40 MW of renewable energy that can be generated from the waste stream in a self-sufficient way and thus reduces Turkey’s dependency on fossil fuels. Lastly, the project is using technology and equipment new to Turkey and as such stimulates technology transfer and innovation. |
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Concerning social sustainability, the Mamak project will support the rehabilitation of the district surrounding the landfill site, the construction of a green area on the covered area of the landfill and an educational café. Furthermore an awareness campaign on the recycling process of solid wastes is being carried out. |
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