Turkey's DOA packaging deposit scheme sparks price complaints and launches bulk return centers

Turkey's Deposit‑on‑Packaging (DOA) system began operating nationwide on 1 July 2026. Under the scheme, plastic, glass and aluminium beverage containers bearing the DOA logo can be returned for a 1 TL credit to a digital wallet. Shortly after launch, merchants reported price hikes of up to 29 % on bottled water and soft drinks, accusing producers of using the new deposit as a pretext for higher wholesale prices. The Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Treasury have opened investigations and said any firms found to have imposed unjustified price increases will face administrative penalties.

Street‑collector groups, however, say the system has created a new income stream. Representatives claim that the value of returned containers now reaches 1 TL each, allowing some collectors to earn up to 60 000 TL per month by gathering thousands of items daily. The Turkey Environment Agency (TÜÇA) confirms that collectors see higher earnings and a more regulated, sustainable workflow.

To address demand and reduce queues at machine‑based return points, a new bulk‑return service was introduced. Citizens can bring large quantities of DOA‑marked containers to designated Counting and Verification Centres, receiving a 0.50 TL incentive per item, while machine returns remain at 1 TL for up to 200 items per day. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change says the change will streamline high‑volume returns and improve overall system efficiency.