16.10.2025

The “Introduction Meeting of the PIRIS Project – Plastic-Free Istanbul Streams for Sustainability”, implemented by the Union of Municipalities of the Bosphorus under an EU grant, was attended by Barbaros Büyüksağnak, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM); Dr. Ali Doğanay, Director of EU Relations  and Akın Özkardaş, Deputy Director of the EU Relations.

The meeting was also attended by Mustafa Oktay Aksu, Mayor of Sarıyer. During the event, Prof. Dr. Ayşen Erdinçler, Head of Environmental Protection and Control Department, who is among the project partners, delivered a presentation on IMM’s role within the project.

The project focuses on tackling the issue of plastic pollution in Istanbul’s rivers, particularly in the areas surrounding the Bosphorus. Led by the Union of Municipalities of the Bosphorus, the project brings together key partners such as the Municipality of Sarıyer, the IMM Marine Services Division, and the Turkish Plastics Industry Foundation (PAGEV).

Building on the methodologies of the EU-funded INSPIRE Project, the PIRIS Project aims to integrate innovative collection and prevention strategies to reduce macro- and microplastic waste in Istanbul’s waterways.