Türkiye’s deposit return scheme has been launched with the aim of recycling more than 25 billion beverage containers a year — a scheme that, while protecting the environment, will create nearly USD 612 million (about €520 million) in economic value for the country.
Türkiye’s deposit management system was launched on the initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan. It ensures that plastic, glass and aluminium containers carrying the “deposit-applicable packaging” (DOA) mark are collected through reverse vending machines and enter the recycling cycle.
In the pilot phase, Sakarya province in north-western Türkiye was chosen as the pilot province and Kızılcahamam in Ankara as a regional pilot. At the same time, deposit return machines are being installed in several other cities, including İzmir in the west.
By collecting beverage containers at source, the system enables clean, efficient sorting before recycling and reuse in production. The main goal is to increase recycling efficiency and reduce reliance on external sources for raw materials. Recycling more than 25 billion beverage containers a year is expected to reduce pollution, protect natural resources and ease pressure from municipal waste.
The transformation is also designed to create economic value. By returning recycled materials to production, the system helps save energy, cut carbon emissions and strengthen the circular economy model.
The Istanbul-based Zero Waste Foundation, of which Emine Erdoğan is honorary president, supports the deposit management system as one of the main pillars of Türkiye’s wider Zero Waste initiative. The foundation seeks to reduce carbon emissions, optimise resource use and make environmental performance measurable for all stakeholders.
