Turkey's Deposit Refund System records millions of returns amid consumer price‑rise protests

Turkey launched its Deposit Refund System (DOA) on 1 July, allowing consumers to receive a 1 TL refund for returning PET, glass or aluminium beverage containers. In the first two days, 4 million 475 thousand containers were collected, more than 1 million users registered, and 4.5 million TL was paid out, according to Environment Minister Murat Kurum.

By the fifth day the total reached 7.6 million containers. The government projects the scheme could handle 25 billion containers annually and add about 30 billion TL to the economy.

Consumer groups, led by Confederation President Aydın Ağaoğlu, accuse many water and soda brands of using the system to justify hidden price increases of 3‑5 TL per bottle, which has pushed the price of a 0.5 L bottle from roughly 5.25 TL to 7.25 TL – a rise of up to 25 %. The controversy has sparked widespread social‑media backlash and calls for stricter price‑control oversight.

A separate guide lists more than 30 Ankara locations where DOA return machines operate, illustrating the system’s rapid rollout across the country.