Settling Olive Oil Sector Waste Problem Meeting Continues - DOĞAKA | T.C. Doğu Akdeniz Kalkınma Ajansı

The processing of olive for olive oil producing black water waste polluting the environment is one of the major problems with the lack of assessment of olive waste facilities. In last 13 years the number of olive trees in Hatay has increased by 70%. Next years, the yields of olive will increase by 50 %. If measures are not taken in coming years, this problem may result causing environmental disaster or more important that this is waste of olive will be unappreciated and extra earning will reduced.

As a result of this agenda, interested parties have started to work in coordination withthe help of Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency (DOĞAKA) to solve the problem. Meetings was held in Environment and Urban Planning Directorate with Hatay FoodAgriculture and Livestock Provincial Directorate, on January 6, 2016 and with Hatay Olive Oil and Soap Product Manufacturing and Marketing Cooperative representativesOn January 8, and lastly with the participation of representatives of cooperatives at DOĞAKA on January 14, 2015.

In these meetings the Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urban Planning; olive processing for solving the problem of the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning directive No. 10/2015 'Olive oil Wastewater Management Facility Circular' that offer businessestwo options; 3-phase olive oil businesses that need to make the appropriate standard to evaporation or 3-phase processing techniques of existing businesseswill convert to 2-phase processing techniques. Failure to comply with environmental legislation Circularis considered to be the administrative and criminal sanctions will follow.

Members of Olive oil Cooperative is 70% of Olive oilbusiness in Hatay. They express that 3 phase black water evaporation is costly for each business and much more water and electricity consumed in 3 phase technic, 2-phase processing method that creates less problems for all businesses of the territorial waters. So, establishment of 2-phase waste processing factory will be must. Converting existing businessesfrom 3 phase to 2-phase technic cost 50,000 TL for each business and all will participate if there is support for it.

DOĞAKA as a support agency has to be provided for the conversion of the company from 3 phase to 2 phase technics, asolive processing businessescan apply to the Agency's financial support programs in coming years and Agency’s Guided Project Support can be evaluated for the facility of olive waste processing establishment,

The solution for the problem will continuesuggestions received and to continue to work on evaluating the implementation has been decided.