Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum attended the promotional meeting of the Deposit Management System, whose pilot implementation was launched in Sakarya.

24 May 2025

Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum attended the promotional meeting of the Deposit Management System, whose pilot implementation was launched in Sakarya.

Speaking at the event in Sakarya, Minister Kurum said: “Our Deposit System is the most important step of the Zero Waste Movement that we launched in 2017, extending from 2025 into the future,” and noted at the program held in Sakarya that “building on the experience gained through the field implementations we launched in Kızılcahamam and Sakarya, we have also begun our work in Erzurum, Samsun, Mersin, Gaziantep, Konya, and İzmir.

Speaking at the event in Sakarya, Minister Kurum said: “Our Deposit System is the most important step of the Zero Waste Movement that we launched in 2017, extending from 2025 into the future,” and noted at the program held in Sakarya that “building on the experience gained through the field implementations we launched in Kızılcahamam and Sakarya, we have also begun our work in Erzurum, Samsun, Mersin, Gaziantep, Konya, and İzmir. At the beginning of 2026, we will install machines across all our provinces and districts. Our goal is clear: first, we will introduce all 86 million of our citizens to this system, and then we will bring all packaging into a form that serves this system. Packaging will no longer be waste—it will become value.”

The widely attended program held at the Orhangazi Cultural Center in Sakarya was also attended by Director of Climate Change Prof. Halil Hasar.

Speaking in Sakarya, where the pilot implementation of the system to be rolled out across all provinces and districts of Türkiye has been launched, Minister Kurum outlined the following key points:

“We Have Gifted the Zero Waste Movement to Humanity”

Minister Kurum noted that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the guidance of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Türkiye has taken significant steps to protect the environment. Minister Kurum noted that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the guidance of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Türkiye has taken significant steps to protect the environment. It is a state that has gifted the Zero Waste Movement to humanity. The global stage our Zero Waste Movement has reached is a summary of our environmental efforts and the clearest proof of our patiently built success. The Deposit Management System we are introducing today is the most important step of the Zero Waste Movement we launched in 2017, extending from 2025 into the future.”

Recovery System Built on the Partnership of TÜÇA, TOBB, and TESK 

Minister Kurum indicated that approximately 35 million tons of solid waste are generated in Türkiye each year, 25 percent of which consists of beverage packaging.

Noting that the Turkish Environment Agency was established to recycle this waste, he said, “We swiftly launched the infrastructure work required for the Deposit Management System. We meticulously carried out the registration process for beverage packaging. We expanded and made mandatory the barcode application on every bottle.  We expanded and made mandatory the barcode application on every bottle. Together with TÜÇA, TOBB, and TESK, we laid the foundations for field management of the recovery system. All processes have so far progressed rapidly, seamlessly, and rationally, and have brought us to where we are today.”

“We Collected 100 Tons of Waste Glass in Sakarya in Just 1.5 Months”

Minister Kurum explained the importance of recycling under the deposit system with concrete examples. He said: Recycling one ton of waste glass reduces air pollution by 20 percent and water pollution by 50 percent. When we recycle one ton of waste glass, we achieve 30 percent savings in raw materials. Today, the average collection rate for waste glass bottles in European countries is around 80 percent, whereas in our country it is only 3 percent. With this system, we will also fulfill a requirement that has been made mandatory under the EU acquis. Currently, we have to import glass cullet used by our factories in production. With this system, we collected 100 tons of waste glass in Sakarya in just one and a half months. When we expand this nationwide, we will no longer be importing glass—we will be exporting it. The same applies to plastic imports.

“More Than EUR 500 Million in Annual Economic Value for Türkiye”

Minister Kurum stressed that full nationwide implementation of the deposit system would bring major economic benefits. “Full implementation of the deposit system across all 81 provinces will provide our country with more than EUR 500 million in economic value every year. It means new investments and new employment opportunities. It means leaving a much more beautiful Türkiye and Sakarya to our children. It means 10,000 new earthquake-resistant homes, more than 150 new schools, and 10 new hospitals. In other words, beyond being a major environmental breakthrough, the deposit system is also a major model for economic development.” 

Around 25 Billion Beverage Packages Have Been Logo-Marked

Minister Kurum emphasized that approximately 25 billion beverage packages are logo-marked annually under the National Deposit Management System. Minister Kurum emphasized that approximately 25 billion beverage packages are logo-marked annually under the National Deposit Management System. Our citizens use our mobile application called DOA during the return process and can accumulate their deposit refunds in their e-wallets. These amounts can be used at all POS devices with QR-code payment functionality and in all personal banking transactions.

“More Than One Million Bottles in Sakarya Did Not End Up in the Trash”

Minister Kurum noted that Kızılcahamam, the first pilot district of the deposit system, has reached a level where an average of 472 tons of waste is recycled annually. He also indicated that positive results were achieved in a short time in Sakarya, the first pilot province. “Our citizens in Sakarya are well acquainted with how the system works. With the 30 deposit return machines and return points we have installed, our system is operating flawlessly. More than 37,000 citizens in Sakarya are currently using the system, and an average of 30,000 packages are collected daily. More than 37,000 citizens in Sakarya are currently using the system, and an average of 30,000 packages are collected daily. So, what does this mean?  Since the launch of the system, more than one million bottles in Sakarya did not end up in the trash, did not pollute nature, and did not contaminate Lake Sapanca. Our citizens have earned income by returning bottles to deposit machines instead of throwing them away.”

“Deposit Return Machines to Be Installed in Seven Provinces Across Seven Regions”

Minister Kurum announced that the deposit system is now ready for nationwide implementation, saying: “Our citizens have embraced the deposit system. This system, which has proven itself in Kızılcahamam and Sakarya, is ready for nationwide implementation. I would like to take this occasion to give you the good news that building on the experience we gained from Kızılcahamam and Sakarya, we have launched work in Erzurum, Samsun, Mersin, Gaziantep, Konya, and İzmir.  We will first complete the installation of Deposit Return Machines in the central provinces of our seven regions. At the beginning of 2026, we will install machines across all our provinces and districts. With the necessary infrastructure, we will expand our system to cover more than 25 billion bottles. Our goal is clear: first, we will introduce all 86 million of our citizens to this system, and then we will bring all packaging into a form that serves this system. Packaging will no longer cause environmental pollution in streets, beaches, and parks, and will no longer contribute to forest fires. Packaging will no longer be waste—it will become value.” 

Speaking at the ceremony, TÜÇA President Ferhat Pirinççi also described the Deposit Management System as a turning point in the Zero Waste Movement. He said, “We will continue to use the experience we gained in Sakarya in our other provinces. We will now treat deposit bottles as raw materials rather than waste. We see this system as one of the most important environmental breakthroughs of the Century of Türkiye."

The promotional meeting of the Deposit Management System, carried out by the Türkiye Environment Agency (TÜÇA) under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, was attended by Sakarya Governor Rahmi Doğan, Sakarya members of parliament, Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yusuf Alemdar, Deputy Ministers Fatma Varank and Ömer Bulut, TÜÇA President Ferhat Pirinççi, TESK President Bendevi Palandöken, and residents of Sakarya.