Türkiye’s bottle deposit system aims to boost economy by $645M annually

Türkiye’s new deposit return system for beverage containers is expected to contribute approximately 30 billion Turkish liras ($645 million) annually to the economy while reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, the head of the Turkish Environment Agency said. The Deposit Return System for Beverage Packaging (DOA) will be launched nationwide on July 1 as part of the Zero Waste initiative. Consumers will be able to return plastic, glass, and aluminum containers bearing the DOA logo through designated return points or reverse vending machines, receiving a refund of 1 lira per container via a mobile application.

Environmental and economic impact

Environment Agency President Nurullah Ozturk told Anadolu that the project is a strategic transformation involving environmental, technological, industrial, and economic dimensions. He said the system is among the world’s most comprehensive digital deposit-return programs. A pilot program in Sakarya has expanded to 72 provinces and recovered more than 38 million containers. Türkiye consumes about 25 billion single-use beverage containers annually. The agency estimates the system could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37,000 tons annually, save 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours of energy, and prevent the use of 3.6 million barrels of oil. Increased recycling rates are expected to reduce raw material imports by 35–40%.

Participation and infrastructure

Currently, 1,148 reverse vending machines have been installed across the country, with six domestic manufacturers producing the equipment. The program includes participation from hotels, restaurants, and cafes, with 853 businesses registered and 304 manual return points operating. Twenty-three operators have been authorized to manage collection, transportation, and verification processes. For Türkiye, which imports significant quantities of raw materials for packaging, the system supports both environmental sustainability and the circular economy. Turkish officials have also noted that the system could serve as a model for other countries in the region.