Registration Process for the Deposit Return System to Begin

Packaging Manufacturers Association Chairman Zeki Sarıbekir made statements about the 'Deposit Return System' aimed at collecting and recycling beverage packaging. The 'Deposit Return System' aims to ensure clean collection of beverage packaging and enable recycling. Regarding the system, which has not yet been implemented, Packaging Manufacturers Association Chairman Zeki Sarıbekir made important statements. Registration procedures for the system are expected to begin this year. Sarıbekir emphasized that PET, glass and aluminum beverage packaging will be included in the system first.  

Packaging Manufacturers Association Chairman Discusses Deposit Return System

Packaging Manufacturers Association Chairman Zeki Sarıbekir made statements about the 'Deposit Return System'. Sarıbekir said that registrations for the 'Deposit Return System' would begin and clarifications were expected from the Turkey Environment Agency Directorate regarding regulations related to the system. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanism and Climate Change stated that the process of collecting deposit fees at the product purchase stage and refunding deposit fees upon return of empty packaging has not yet started. The process will be monitored by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanism and Climate Change and the Turkey Environment Agency.

Starting with PET, Glass and Aluminum Beverage Packaging

Sarıbekir stated that in the first phase of the Deposit Return System, they expected standards to be established for packaging to be included in the system starting January 2022, and registration procedures for beverages placed on the market with packaging compliant with these standards to be carried out. Sarıbekir said: "This process will take a certain amount of time. After beverages placed on the market are registered, initially PET, glass and aluminum beverage packaging will be mandatory; subsequently HDPE and composite beverage packaging are planned to be included in this system. The process of collecting deposit fees at the product purchase stage and refunding deposit fees upon return of empty packaging has not yet started."

Waste Imports Will End

According to data from the Packaging Bulletin published by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanism and Climate Change; an average of 50 percent of packaging placed on the domestic market is recovered. Sarıbekir said they have long emphasized that recycling of packaging can provide a very significant contribution to the national economy and environment. Sarıbekir stated that with the mandatory deposit applied to beverage packaging, separate and clean collection would be conducted at source, thereby obtaining raw materials suitable for recycling and providing significant benefits to both the sector and the national economy, and that waste imports would also end.