30.04.2025 10:52
In the Bornova district of İzmir, the piles of garbage and waste in the Shoemakers' Site are both harming the local tradespeople and raising concerns about fire risks. The sight of the area, which has turned into a waste mountain, is comparable to that of India, and it has been reported that vehicles from the Bornova Municipality are also dumping garbage in the area.
The Shoemakers' Site, one of the important production centers of İzmir, has been struggling with the long-standing problem of garbage and waste. Due to the uncollected trash, garbage mountains have formed in many places, and the citizens who run businesses in the site expressed that they are suffering from the bad smell. The tradesmen, who are worried about the garbage that also poses a fire risk, reacted to the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and Bornova Municipality, claiming they are victims of the situation.
"IT DOESN'T SUIT İZMİR"
Serhat Akay, one of the tradesmen at the site, stated, "We have a garbage problem here, and some roads have been closed because of this trash. When we inform the authorities, they say it is not within their responsibility area. If we, as tradesmen, try to collect this trash ourselves, it would take us 5 years to remove it. They also bring trash from outside; you see rubble and parts from repairmen. This image does not suit İzmir or Turkey. İzmir is not the only place producing shoes; many cities have this production, but everyone's trash is collected; only we, as İzmir tradesmen, are suffering. Two days ago, a fire broke out here, and black smoke was visible from everywhere. We are afraid someone will throw a cigarette. This tradesman pays the garbage tax and all taxes, but the image is evident," he said.
MUNICIPAL VEHICLE DUMPED TRASH TOO
Mikal Koçeski, a tradesman, said, "We are embarrassed when our guests come; we bring them through other roads to our workplaces. Sometimes we take a shovel and a pitchfork to try to clean up, but how long can we do this? Rats are running around. There are rats bigger than cats. The visible village does not need a guide," while İdris Ertürk, another tradesman, mentioned that even municipal vehicles dump trash here and that they have complained about it. Ertürk stated, "It is illegal to dump trash here, but it is being done. We have seen Bornova Municipality vehicles dumping trash here. We reported this to the municipal police chiefs, authorities, and CİMER. God forbid, if a big fire breaks out here, nothing will be left," he explained.
Bornova Municipality claimed that the area in question is not within the jurisdiction of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality or its own municipality.