Türkiye’s waste return system collects 7.6 mln containers in five days
Türkiye’s newly launched deposit return scheme saw citizens return 7.6 million beverage containers in just five days, a rapid adoption that Environment Minister Murat Kurum hailed as a major success for the country’s environmental efforts.
The Deposit Return System (DOA), introduced across Türkiye on July 1, rewards consumers with 1 Turkish Lira for every eligible plastic, glass and aluminum beverage container returned through designated reverse vending machines. The initiative aims to curb environmental pollution, boost recycling rates and recover valuable materials for the economy.
Speaking at a ceremony in Istanbul’s Beykoz district, Kurum said more than 1.3 million people have already registered for the system since its launch. He noted that the rapid public uptake exceeded expectations, with 7.6 million beverage packages collected within the first five days.
Interest in the initiative has led to long queues forming at deposit return machines in Istanbul and several other provinces as people brought bags of used plastic bottles, glass bottles and aluminum cans to be processed one by one. Once scanned, the returned containers enter the recycling chain, while the corresponding payments are credited to users’ digital wallets.
