Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of an urban pilot project on separate collection of packaging wastes. The project
has been performed in a developed and industrialized city of Turkey, Kocaeli with the aim of collecting packaging wastes
generated in residents, public offices and other business offices. The project was carried out according to packaging waste
management plans developed by sub-municipalities in coordination with Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. Total monthly
collected packaging waste amounts have increased from 423.75 ton to 2891.16 ton during a 2-year period. Despite the increase in
collected packaging waste amounts, collection efficiencies could not exceed 50% throughout the project. This can be explained
by the absence of law enforcement in Packaging and Packaging Waste Control Act about separate collection of packaging
wastes. The project was carried out by volunteers. Results of the study showed that collection efficiencies exhibited differences
between the regions as a result of varying socio-economic conditions, number of distributed collection equipments and intensity
of educational activities. In the paper, impacts of various socio-economic conditions and educational activities were also
evaluated statistically by bivariate correlation analysis. Remarkable positive correlations were determined for the relationships
between the quantity of distributed collection equipments and the collected packaging waste amounts. Educational activities were
also found be effective with R2 values higher than 0.60. Population density and educational status of the regions have exhibited
lower positive correlations explained by R2 values of 0.007 and 0.184.