Turkey (TR)
Turkey is a transcontinental nation straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait, uniting 85 million people under a rich civilisational heritage stretching from the ancient Hittites and Romans to the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire.
Recycling & Waste in Turkey
Bin system, bottle deposits, special disposal, and common mistakes.
Turkey's recycling and waste management infrastructure is developing but significantly behind Western European standards. The Sıfır Atık (Zero Waste) national programme, launched in 2017 and significantly expanded since, has pushed for increased recycling across public institutions and residential buildings. Separate collection bins (mavi/sarı/yeşil) are visible in many Turkish cities, especially Istanbul. Enforcement and actual separation rates remain lower than Northern Europe. Many apartment buildings (site yönetimi) have their own recycling rules — check with your kapıcı (building superintendent). Belediye (municipality) recycling services vary widely by district quality and commitment.
The Bin System
General Waste
Grey or blackKarışık Atık / Çöp
- ✓Non-recyclable household waste
- ✓Food scraps
- ✓Contaminated packaging
- ✓Diapers/hygiene items
- ✓Broken ceramics
- ✗Recyclables
- ✗Hazardous waste
- ✗Electronics
- ✗Large items
Blue Bin — Paper and Cardboard
BlueKağıt ve Karton Kutusu (Mavi Kutu)
- ✓Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Newspapers and magazines
- ✓Office paper
- ✓Paper bags
- ✓Cardboard packaging
- ✗Plastic-coated paper
- ✗Wet or dirty paper
- ✗Tissues/paper towels
- ✗Receipts (thermal paper)
Yellow Bin — Plastics and Metals
YellowPlastik/Metal Kutusu (Sarı Kutu)
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Plastic film and bags (where accepted)
- ✓Aluminium cans
- ✓Steel/tin cans
- ✓Metal packaging
- ✓Plastic household items
- ✗Plastic bags contaminated with food
- ✗Polystyrene/styrofoam
- ✗Electrical cables
Green Bin — Glass
GreenCam Kutusu (Yeşil Kutu)
- ✓Glass bottles (all colours)
- ✓Glass jars
- ✓Glass food containers
- ✗Mirrors
- ✗Window glass
- ✗Ceramic dishes
- ✗Crystal
- ✗Light bulbs
Battery Collection Box
Yellow/Green — variesPil Kutusu
- ✓Used batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V)
- ✓Button cells
- ✓Small rechargeable batteries
- ✗Large vehicle batteries
- ✗Industrial batteries
DOA — Depozitosu Olan Ambalajlar (national deposit system, launching 1 July 2026) — Bottle Deposit System
Turkey is launching a mandatory national deposit return system (DOA — Depozitosu Olan Ambalajlar) covering all 81 provinces on 1 July 2026. DOA applies to eligible PET plastic bottles, glass bottles, and aluminium cans carrying the DOA logo. Managed under Turkey's Sıfır Atık (Zero Waste) initiative. In the meantime, some supermarkets (Migros, CarrefourSA) already have voluntary reverse vending machines (GET — Geri Dönüşüm Ödeme Terminali) where you can return containers for a variable credit.
DOA (national scheme from 1 July 2026): 1 TRY per eligible container. Existing voluntary GET machines: variable (typically TRY 5–15 per container depending on retailer and container type).
From 1 July 2026: return DOA-marked containers to return points at all participating retailers — refund credited to a digital wallet linked to the DOA app (doa.gov.tr). Until then: use the existing GET reverse vending machines at Migros and other participating stores for variable store credit.
Special Disposal
Return to electronics retailers (Media Markt, Teknosa, Vatan Bilgisayar — they accept e-waste). E-waste collection bins at some municipalities. E-atık collection events organised by belediye periodically.
WEEE regulations apply in Turkey — retailers of electronics are obligated to accept e-waste for recycling.
Yellow collection boxes at supermarkets, pharmacies, government buildings, and schools. Also returned to electronics shops.
Never throw batteries in general waste — they contain toxic materials. The TAP (Turkey Battery) collection system operates nationwide.
Return unused or expired medications to any eczane (pharmacy). The İLKO (İlaç Geri Dönüşüm Kutusu) programme operates collection boxes at pharmacies.
Never flush medications down the toilet or throw in general waste.
Collection points at municipal offices and some supermarkets. İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi has dedicated collection containers in some districts.
Convert used cooking oil to biodiesel — Turkish municipalities collect and process through ATIK KABUL hizmetleri.
Contact your local belediye (municipality) for scheduled collection. Most municipalities offer free or low-cost bulky waste collection with prior booking.
Do not leave large items on the street without prior arrangement — this can result in a municipal fine.
Municipal debris removal service (enkaz kaldırma) — contact belediye. Private licensed contractors for larger quantities. Must use licensed removal trucks.
Significant fines for illegal dumping of construction waste (moloz). Always use licensed contractors.
Municipal hazardous waste collection events (tehlikeli atık kampanyaları) — check İBB (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) website for dates.
Includes paint, solvents, pesticides, and bleach-based cleaners.
Bulk Waste
Contact your district municipality (ilçe belediyesi) for bulk waste collection (büyük çöp / moloz taşıma hizmeti). Most Istanbul districts offer free collection scheduling for furniture and large items. Use belediye's website or app, or call their environmental services line. Note: in practice many Turks leave large items on the street — they are typically collected quickly by scrap metal collectors (hurdacı) who patrol neighbourhoods, or by the belediye. Formal booking recommended for large quantities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ! Putting recycling in the wrong bin — contamination reduces recycling effectiveness and frustrates the system.
- ! Not rinsing food containers before recycling — food contamination means containers go to general waste.
- ! Throwing batteries in general waste — illegal and environmentally harmful.
- ! Assuming separate recycling bins in your building automatically means good recycling outcomes — building management quality varies greatly.
- ! Leaving building for the morning without checking which collection day is for which material — different bins collected on different days.
- ! Recycling plastic bags as if they are acceptable in all plastic bins — check local collection rules.
Fines & Enforcement
Illegal dumping (çöp atmak) fines: TRY 2,000–10,000+ depending on infraction severity. Zabıta (municipal enforcement) patrols for illegal dumping. Report illegal dumping at belediye hotlines. Construction waste dumping: TRY 20,000–100,000 fines for commercial violations.
Practical Tips
- → Check with your building's kapıcı or site yönetimi (building management) for building-specific recycling procedures — many modern buildings have dedicated recycling rooms.
- → Follow İBB Sürdürülebilirlik (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sustainability) on social media for recycling drive notifications.
- → The Sıfır Atık (Zero Waste) app provides maps of recycling collection points across Turkey.
- → Use the geri dönüşüm makineleri (reverse vending machines) at Migros for bottle and can returns — easy extra TRY.
- → Organic waste: a compost bin on your balcony is increasingly popular among Istanbul's eco-conscious residents.