Yavuz Eroglu, President of the Turkish Plastics Industrialists Research Development and Education Foundation (PAGEV), said, “In Turkey, 20 billion beverage packages are used annually, 9 billion of which consists of plastic packages. With the Deposit Return System, ₺1.4 billion can be contributed annually to the economy if the said wastes are recycled.”
According to the statement made by PAGEV, the Deposit Return System (DIS), which will ensure that plastic, glass, metal-aluminum and cardboard wastes are recycled, not trashed, will be activated in 2022. DIS, which is expected to reduce environmental problems, is expected to accelerate investments in the recycling sector.
Eroglu, whose views were included in the statement, drew attention to the fact that if the system works correctly, 1 million tons of additional waste can be avoided in Turkey every year.
Stating that with the Deposit Return System, the consumer will be encouraged to recycle, Eroglu said:
“With the application that will come into effect next year, consumers will pay the deposit return fee determined together with the product price at the point of sale when purchasing the products. The deposit system will direct the consumer to the market or other collection points determined by the system in order to get back the price paid other than the price of the product, and the consumer will return the waste in order to get the deposit price back. Refunds can be money or shopping points. With the deposit system, the wastes that will have monetary value for the consumer will not be thrown into the environment as garbage, and thus they will be taken to the collection centers and converted into raw materials. Both the environment will be protected and the country’s economy will win. The deposit application will accelerate the development of the sector by enabling clean and recyclable raw materials to be obtained.”
Eroglu stated that the wastes that cause environmental pollution when thrown into parks, gardens and seas will gain value in terms of consumers as they gain monetary value with the Deposit Return System.
Explaining that 20 billion beverage packages are used annually in Turkey and 9 billion of them are plastic packages, Eroglu stated that ₺1.4 billion can be contributed to the economy if the said wastes are recycled with DIS.
Eroglu continued his words as follows:
“The deposit system has 3 consequences. First, you buy the product, after using it, you return the waste and get your deposit back. Secondly, you buy the product, you do not return it after using it, and the deposit remains with the system, namely the state. The government uses that money to grow the recycling system and protect the environment. In the third option, you buy the product and give it to someone who collects waste for the deposit fee to be returned after use. That person also takes the waste to the collection center to collect the deposit fee and receives the deposit refund himself. In all three cases, while the packaging is prevented from being thrown around and the environment is protected, the system that both the consumer and the recycling sector gain works.”
Stating that the amount of beverage packaging used increases every year due to the consumption habits of the young population in Turkey, Eroglu stated that the figures are 279 per person per year and 20 billion in total.
“By the beginning of 2030, the figure is expected to reach 30 billion in total. Therefore, a deposit system is a must for an environmentally compatible growth model. The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization has been working in detail for a long time to establish the infrastructure of its system. In this process, in the Official Gazette dated 30 December 2020, an amendment was made to the Environmental Law regarding deposits. Environment Agency was established and it was decided to switch to Mandatory Deposit. The Turkish Environment Agency has been equipped with the authorities to ensure the sustainability and safety of the process by carrying out financial and administrative audits. According to the packaging waste control regulation, on January 1, 2022, it became clear that glass, aluminum and plastic packages are within the scope of mandatory deposit.”
“It is aimed to collect 70% of plastic beverage waste in the first place”
Pointing out that it is aimed to collect 70% of plastic beverage waste in the first place, Eroglu argued that the deposit system will also help increase the safety of recycled raw material supply in the plastics industry.
Reminding that 85% of the raw material need of the Turkish plastics industry is met by imports, Eroglu said:
“The raw material supply security of our industry, which ranks 6th in the world and 2nd in Europe after Germany, is important. Domestic raw material production meets only 15% of our need. We also experience price shocks from time to time, as petrochemical companies are inspired by OPEC-like cartel structures in oil. Increasing the collection of our wastes with the deposit system means that we reach the product that has been provided with supply security under suitable conditions for recycling. In this way, it will be easier for us to protect both our companies and our consumers from the supply and price shocks of petrochemical companies with a cartel structure. With the deposit system that will reduce the current account deficit, plastic products produced with recycled raw materials will reach our consumers at more affordable prices. It will pave the way for a downward effect on inflation.”
Eroglu stated that the Deposit Return System is implemented in 15 countries around the world, and that the biggest advantage of these systems is that they increase the amount of collection and recycling and he noted that the collection rate of non-returnable beverage packages in Europe is 47%, and the collection rate in areas with deposits is 94%.
Reminding that the world’s countries are sensitive about climate change, the Paris Climate Agreement, the EU Green Agreement and certain issues that direct the economy, Eroglu said, “Aiming to reduce carbon emissions, the EU wants 25% of its beverage packaging to consist of recycled products by 2025. It is planned to increase this rate to 30% by 2030. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to make the consumer a stakeholder of the recycling system and reward it. Therefore, the Deposit Return System makes a significant contribution to the environmental recycling trend. When the system comes into operation in 2022, it will reduce carbon emissions of 263 thousand tons/year in Turkey.”
Source: AA / Translated by Irem Yildiz