Turkey's DOA recycling system surpasses 100 million items collected

Turkey's Deposit Return System (DOA) has surpassed a milestone of 100 million collected packaging items since its national integration began on July 1, 2026. According to data released by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the collected items include over 66 million PET bottles, 17 million aluminum cans, and 16 million glass bottles.

Antalya leads the country in packaging collection, followed by Istanbul, Kocaeli, Adana, and Izmir. Minister Murat Kurum noted that the system supports the ‘Zero Waste’ initiative and is expected to expand its reach in the future.

Users of the system currently access return machines via the DOA mobile application using QR codes. Refund amounts are credited to a digital wallet within the app, which can then be transferred to bank accounts, withdrawn as cash from ATMs, or used for shopping at partner businesses. The system applies to single-use PET, glass, and aluminum packaging between 0.10 and 3.01 liters that bear the DOA logo.