Packaging return set to 1 TL with Deposit Management System launched across Türkiye

Developed by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and implemented to reintroduce recyclable waste into the economy, the Deposit Management System (DYS) officially started to be applied in all 81 provinces of Türkiye as of today. Previously tested only in Sakarya province as a pilot region, the system was expanded across the country upon successful results, and with this expansion process, the incentive amount provided to citizens was significantly increased from the 25 kuruş level in the previous pilot period to 1 TL.

Within the scope of the new system, it is aimed to provide citizens with a cash refund when all beverage packages made of recyclable materials such as plastic, glass, and aluminum bearing the DYS logo are delivered to designated return points. For the active use of the system, citizens are required to download the DYS mobile application to their smartphones, and through this application, verification is provided to manage the recycling process digitally and enable users to perform transactions easily.

According to the operation of the application, users take packages bearing the DYS logo to return machines integrated into the system, identify and deliver the package via barcode or QR code readers on the machines. After the return process is successfully completed, the equivalent of 1 TL determined for each package is loaded instantly and automatically into personal digital wallets within the DYS mobile application, thus delivering the financial incentive to the user.

Citizens have the flexibility to withdraw the amounts accumulated in their digital wallets as cash from bank ATMs at any time or to use them in their shopping with widespread contactless payment methods today. Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, in his statements regarding the issue, emphasized that the system does not only provide environmental benefits but also contributes significantly to the country's economy, underlining targets such as collecting 25 billion packages annually and providing 30 billion TL in economic contribution.

In detailed evaluations made by authorities, it is stated that the biggest goal of this system is to reintroduce millions of tons of plastic, glass, and aluminum waste into the economy as raw materials instead of harming nature. In this way, while preventing the depletion of natural resources and protecting the environment, it is aimed for citizens to gain direct economic benefits to increase their participation in recycling activities, and to create a win-win situation both on an individual and national scale.