Turkey targets 50,000 deposit return points for packaging recycling

The Turkish Environmental Agency is implementing a national deposit return system to collect and recycle approximately 25 billion units of PET, glass, and aluminum packaging annually. Nurullah Öztürk, President of the Turkish Environmental Agency, announced the opening of the BURKASAN Counting and Verification Line Center in Bursa, marking a significant step in the country's recycling strategy.

The agency aims to establish approximately 150 such counting and verification centers across Turkey. Infrastructure development, including software and machinery production, began in 2022. A pilot phase is scheduled for February 2025, with pilot applications running until July 2026. Following this, the system will enter a “national integration period” on July 1, 2026, with the goal of full nationwide expansion within two years.