The solid waste collection charge, which is planned to be levied on residential properties in Alanya from the new year onwards and is reported to amount to approximately 600 TL per year, was discussed at the Alanya Municipality’s October municipal council meeting. Whilst Velittin Yenialp, a municipal councillor from the İYİ Party, called for the measure to be scrapped, Mayor of Alanya Osman Tarık Özçelik stated that the regulation was a legal requirement.
Yenialp pointed out that residents are currently paying the Environmental Cleaning Tax. He argued that the new charge would place a significant burden on pensioners and those on the minimum wage in particular.
Noting that small business owners were going through a difficult season, Yenialp called for no increases to be made to occupation, entertainment and advertising taxes either.
Responding to the criticisms, Özçelik said that they had kept increases in the municipal budget below the rate of inflation. Özçelik stated that increases in items directly affecting citizens had been limited to 15 per cent, and noted that the council had no discretion regarding the refuse collection charges to be levied on residential properties.
