# Turkey's DOA system expands and gains international acclaim > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-beverage-depositreturn-program > Updated: 2026-09-04T05:24:18.000Z. Sources: 101. Developments: 21. Turkey’s nationwide Deposit-Return System (DOA) became fully operational on 1 July 2026, covering all 81 provinces and 973 districts. In the first ten days nearly 2 million users returned about 18.8 million PET, glass and aluminium containers and received a 1 TL credit per eligible item in a digital wallet. The scheme pays businesses such as hotels and cafés 0.20 TL per container and obliges registration by the end-October deadline. Authorities aim to recycle roughly 25 billion containers annually, targeting a 50% recovery rate initially and 80% when mature, with projected cuts of 37,000 t CO2, 1.3 billion kWh energy and avoidance of 3.6 million barrels of oil. Soon after launch, merchants reported price rises of up to 29% on bottled water and soft drinks, prompting investigations by the Trade and Treasury ministries. Street-collector groups note earnings of up to 60,000 TL per month for high-volume participants. To ease queues at machine-based points, bulk-return Counting and Verification Centres were opened, offering a 0.50 TL incentive per item while retaining the 1 TL credit for up to 200 items per day; the Sakarya centre now processes about 7,000 containers daily, with PET volumes tripling. In late July the Environment Agency rolled out a free Mobile DOA handheld terminal for small retailers. Registered businesses receive the device at no cost; citizens scan a QR code, hand over labelled containers and earn 1 TL, while the retailer receives 0.50 TL per item. Pilot sites such as Diyarbakır already operate seven points with plans for fifty. A parallel pilot in Denizli, run by ART Group, equips shops, kiosks and muhtarlık offices with similar handheld terminals. By mid-August, the system surpassed 100 million collected items, including 66 million PET bottles, 17 million aluminium cans, and 16 million glass bottles. ## Claims - The system aims to recycle approximately 20 billion beverage packages annually. (disputed by 4 sources) - The system is projected to contribute approximately 1 billion dollars annually to the national economy. (disputed by 4 sources) - The system aims to contribute 30 billion TL to the Turkish economy annually. (disputed by 3 sources) - The system targets the collection of 25 billion containers per year. (disputed by 3 sources) - Mobile DOA terminals will be provided free to businesses that complete registration on the Deposit Information Management System (DBYS). (corroborated by 6 sources) - Citizens receive 1 TL per returned DOA‑labelled beverage container, credited to a digital DOA wallet. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Retailers earn a 0.50 TL incentive for each DOA container they collect and hand to field operators. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The Mobile DOA device enables markets, corner stores and kiosks without a deposit‑return machine to act as manual return points. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The Mobile DOA terminal performs barcode verification, counting, registration and data transfer in a single handheld device. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The rollout began on 1 July 2026 and covers 81 provinces in Turkey. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Agency chief Nurullah Öztürk said the aim is to have accessible return points in every neighbourhood. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Turkey plans to introduce its Deposit Returnable Packaging (DOA) system at the COP31 summit in Antalya. (corroborated by 4 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-04: Turkey's DOA system collects 205 million beverage containers Turkey's DOA deposit system has collected over 205 million beverage containers since July 1, 2026, aiming to contribute 30 billion TL to the economy through recycling. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-doa-system-collects-205-million-beverage-containers ### 2026-08-31: COP31 preparations advance with Koç Holding as Global Business Partner Turkey is preparing to host COP31 in Antalya this November. Koç Holding has joined as a Global Business Partner, and the summit will feature demonstrations of Turkey’s new digital deposit return system. 19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-to-showcase-doa-deposit-system-at-cop31-summit ### 2026-08-31: Turkey’s deposit recycling system cited as global model by The Times The Times has praised Turkey’s Deposit Management System as a global model for recycling, noting its $1 billion impact on reducing the current account deficit and its 25 billion annual packaging capacity. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-deposit-recycling-system-cited-as-global-model-by-the-times ### 2026-08-29: Turkey's DOA system recycles 130 million beverage packages Turkey's DOA recycling system has recovered 130 million beverage packages, saving 246 tons of CO2 emissions and 47,000 barrels of oil through a digital deposit-return incentive program. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-doa-system-recycles-130-million-beverage-packages ### 2026-08-16: Turkey's DOA recycling system surpasses 100 million items collected Turkey's Deposit Return System (DOA) has collected over 100 million recyclable items, including PET bottles and aluminum cans, since its July 2026 launch. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-doa-recycling-system-surpasses-100-million-items-collected ### 2026-07-31: Turkey rolls out manual recycling return points in Denizli ART Group introduced manual recycling return points in Denizli, equipped with handheld terminals that pay operators 50 kuruş per item and give citizens a 1 TL incentive, expanding the deposit system to four Tur 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-rolls-out-manual-recycling-return-points-in-denizli ### 2026-07-28: Turkey expands deposit‑return network with free Mobile DOA terminals Turkey’s Environment Agency introduced free Mobile DOA terminals for small shops, letting citizens earn 1 TL per returned container and retailers earn 0.50 TL each, to expand the deposit‑return network nation‑w 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-launches-mobile-doa-system-for-small-retailers ### 2026-07-26: Turkey launches nationwide deposit‑return recycling program Turkey’s new Deposit‑Return System, launched 1 July 2026, uses DOA machines across 81 provinces to collect and recycle PET, aluminium and glass containers, handling about 7 000 items daily and feeding reclaimed 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-minister-murat-kurum-shows-how-deposit-return-bottles-are-processed ### 2026-07-19: Turkey's DOA packaging deposit scheme sparks price complaints and launches bulk return centers Turkey's DOA deposit system, active since 1 July 2026, triggers merchant price‑rise complaints and gives street collectors up to 60 000 TL monthly, while a new bulk‑return service offers 0.50 TL per item to cut 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-new-deposit-return-system-hits-street-collectors-income ### 2026-07-18: Turkey's PET Bottle Deposit Queues Reveal Widespread Poverty Queues at Turkey's PET bottle deposit machines expose how many citizens rely on small refunds to cope with deepening economic hardship. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-pet-bottle-deposit-queues-reveal-widespread-poverty ### 2026-07-17: Turkey moves deposit refunds to QR‑code mobile app Turkey's deposit‑return system now requires a QR‑code from its mobile app, ending ID‑based entry to curb abuse, with 2 million users, 2 500 machines and a goal of 20 000, aiming to boost recycling and cut em​s​ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-moves-deposit-refunds-to-qrcode-mobile-app ### 2026-07-11: Turkey's DOA system gathers 18.8 million beverage containers in 10 days Turkey's new DOA deposit‑return system collected 18.8 million beverage containers in ten days, with 1 TL incentives, digital wallets, and plans to recycle 25 billion packages annually. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-deposit-scheme-recovers-188-million-packages-in-10-days ### 2026-07-08: Turkey to Require All Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés to Join Deposit Return System by October Turkey’s DOA system, active in 81 provinces, pays 1 TL per returned beverage container, mandates hotels, restaurants and cafés to register by October, and aims to lift recycling from 13 % to 40 % by 2026, with 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-expands-deposit-return-system-for-beverage-containers ### 2026-07-05: Bursa's DOA Deposit Return Points Drive Recycling and Citizen Earnings Bursa’s DOA deposit‑return machines, opened 1 July, give 1 lira per eligible beverage container, drawing long queues, over 7.6 million returns and 1 million users, aiming to cut waste and boost the economy. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bursas-doa-deposit-return-points-drive-recycling-and-citizen-earnings ### 2026-07-03: Turkish Minister Murat Kurum says DOA scheme yields 4.5 bn TL for citizens Turkey’s environment minister Murat Kurum said the DOA deposit system collected 4.5 million containers in two days, giving citizens 4.5 million TL and aiming for 25 billion containers a year. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-minister-murat-kurum-says-doa-scheme-yields-45-bn-tl-for-citizens ### 2026-07-03: Turkey's Deposit Refund System records millions of returns amid consumer price‑rise protests Turkey's deposit refund scheme collected over 7 million containers in its first week and paid out 4.5 million TL, but consumers protest 3‑5 TL hidden price hikes on water and soda. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-bottle-deposit-system-sparks-price-hikes-and-rapid-consumer-uptake ### 2026-07-02: Turkey's DOA Deposit Return System Launch Sparks Price Concerns Turkey's nationwide Deposit Return System (DOA) began operating in all 81 provinces, logging 1.5 million beverage containers and 649 k users on day one; a citizen claims the scheme has raised water bottleprices 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-doa-deposit-return-system-launch-sparks-price-concerns ### 2026-07-01: Turkey launches nationwide deposit‑return system for beverage containers Turkey's nationwide deposit‑return system began on 1 July 2026, rewarding 1 TL per returned plastic, glass or aluminium beverage container and targeting 25 billion items a year. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-launches-nationwide-depositreturn-system-for-beverage-containers ### 2026-06-28: Turkey Launches Nationwide Deposit‑Refund Packaging Scheme on July 1 Turkey’s new Deposit‑Refund Packaging (DOA) system begins 1 July, targeting 40 % recycling by 2026 and a 1 lira refund for eligible containers. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-launches-nationwide-depositrefund-packaging-scheme-on-july-1 ### 2026-06-24: Turkey's Deposit-Return Packaging System to Include Hotels, Restaurants Turkey's deposit‑return packaging system launches nationwide on July 1, enlisting hotels, restaurants and cafés to collect labelled containers, offering a 0.20 TL incentive per item and targeting a 30 billion T 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-horeka-businesses-join-national-depositpackaging-recycling-system ### 2026-06-04: Turkey starts nationwide deposit return system for beverage packaging Turkey’s environment ministry will launch the DOA deposit‑return scheme on 1 July 2026, paying 1 TL for each returned PET, glass or aluminium beverage container, aiming to recycle 25 bn items annually and boost 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-launches-nationwide-depositreturn-scheme-for-beverage-containers --- Cite as: Turkey's DOA system expands and gains international acclaim. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-beverage-depositreturn-program