In İzmir, which has been unable to solve the pollution problem in the bay, there is now a waste crisis.

Due to pollution in the Gulf, İzmir, which has been on the agenda for months, is now facing a garbage crisis. Following the strike at Buca Municipality, the garbage collection interval has been extended, causing trash bins in Seyhan Neighborhood to overflow and piles of garbage to form. Citizens coming to dispose of their waste left their trash bags on the ground due to the growing garbage pile.

"WE HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE WE WANT TO ESCAPE FROM HERE"

Hasan Karatabak, who reacted to the situation and has lived in the same neighborhood for over 50 years, stated that there is no longer any space to throw away garbage. Arguing that the neighborhood is getting worse, Karatabak said, "In the past, the people of İzmir used to come here for picnics. Forget about picnics; we have reached a point where we want to escape from here. The garbage here never ends. The loader comes every 3-5 days to pick up the trash. If they don't come, there is no place left to throw garbage. We have children. This is the edge of the park. There is a smell of disease. Whenever something burning spills, there is always trouble." he said.

"PUBLIC SERVICE DOES NOT WAIT"

Karatabak, who wants the authorities to resolve the garbage issue, said:

"No matter what the authorities do, this is a public service. Public service does not wait. Whether the municipality is on strike or not is not my problem. My problem is that this garbage is removed from here. The municipality will handle this. They will solve their problems with their workers and take my garbage from here. Because I pay taxes to the municipality for this. But when I do not receive the service I deserve, I end up with garbage mountains like this..."

"THE FLIES IN SUMMER, THE FILTH IN WINTER NEVER ENDS"

Bülent Karahaner, who has been a tradesman in the neighborhood for 20 years, also stated that they are suffering due to garbage and bad odors. Karahaner said, "The situation here has been like this for about a week. There is neither an arrival nor a departure. We previously wrote to CİMER. We also informed the municipal police, but we could not find a solution. Nothing has changed. They have not been able to remove this garbage. We are suffering. The flies in summer never end. The filth in winter never ends. We are tired of sweeping in front of the shop." he said.

STRIKE STARTED ON NOVEMBER 12

At Buca Municipality, after no agreement was reached in collective bargaining negotiations with the General İş Union, affiliated with DİSK, union member workers went on strike on November 12. On the second day of the strike, union representatives announced that an agreement had been reached with the Buca Municipality and the Social Democratic Public Employers Union (SODEMSEN) officials, and a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was signed, ending the strike.