Zero Waste Project: Deposit refund points are coming

The infrastructure of the Deposit Management System (DYS), which will be mandatory within the scope of the ‘Zero Waste Project’ successfully implemented in Turkey, has been completed. Printing houses, manufacturers and products within the scope that will print the high security logo are ready for the system. Now it’s time to create return points. Turkey plans to recycle more than 20 billion products annually with the Deposit Management System.

DEPOSIT REFUND POINTS ARE COMING

The infrastructure of the system, which is important for both economy, environment and human health, is ready. Registrations to the system have also been achieved to a large extent. Now it’s time to create deposit return points. It is planned that the return points, which will be established at many points, especially in market chains, under the management of the Turkish Environment Agency (TÜÇA), will be put into operation in 2024. While empty packages can be delivered to consumers by hand at return points, Deposit Return Machines (DIM), the installation of which will begin quickly, will also be put into practice. DIMs, which will be the main contact points of consumers, are of great importance for the Deposit Management System. ‘Deposit Return Machines’ (DIM), which accept disposable packages made of glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and aluminum brought by consumers, check the shape, dimensions and special DYS logo of each package and carry out the approval process and send the deposit refund fee to the consumer via the mobile application. It pays.

WE WILL SEE RETURN POINTS EVERYWHERE THIS YEAR

Currently, thanks to both local and foreign DIMs at public points in pilot application regions such as Yalova and Kızılcahamam, citizens can be entitled to receive refund points and money by returning disposable beverage packages currently in circulation. Within the scope of the deposit system, we will be able to see DIMs almost everywhere in the coming period. It is planned to install 30 thousand DIMs across the country in the next 3 years. The deposit fee determined by the Turkish Environment Agency will be included in the sales price of the products, but since this fee will be returned to the consumer with the returned packaging, consumers are expected to use DIMs intensively. It is anticipated that an annual returned packaging volume of 20 billion pieces will be generated within the system; This corresponds to 55 million packages per day. These data show that DIMs will be used very intensively by a large portion of consumers.

Considering our wide geography and high population, it is planned to place a large number of vending machines in markets and similar sales points, restaurants and hotels in order to facilitate consumers’ access to the system. This creates an important opportunity for domestic producers. Moreover, considering the global market of DIMs, they have a high potential to create a new door in exports.

THERE WILL BE DYS LOGO ON THE PACKAGING

Disposable packaging made of glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) type plastic and aluminum type metal materials, which were initially used in the marketing of beverages in Turkey, will be primarily included in the scope of mandatory deposit application.

In order for consumers not to consume fake, illegal and unregistered beverages and for easy separation of packaged beverages subject to deposit, the Deposit Management System logo (DYS Logo) will appear on the labels or packages of the beverages included in the system, indicating that they are included in the deposit program. Labels with the DYS logo for the beverages within the scope of the deposit application are printed with a special and uncopyable ink.

SPECIALLY INKED, NON-COPIABLE LABEL

It is not possible to counterfeit the special security ink used in the application of the Deposit Management System (DYS) Logo on packaging. Since the special security ink is checked with special devices thanks to its distinguishing features, it can be understood whether the DYS logo on the beverage packaging carries the Deposit Management System special security ink. Since the ink is designed specifically for the project, it is not possible to obtain it from the market directly or indirectly. Only packaging and label manufacturers who have received an authorization certificate within the scope of the project will have the right to use special security ink.

ALL MANUFACTURERS ARE IN THE SYSTEM

Many companies started production with the Deposit Management System logo and products with the DYS logo began to appear on market shelves. Since products without the DYS logo cannot be sold, companies complete their approval processes quickly. Thus, we will see more products with the DYS logo on market shelves in the coming days.

TURKEY ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY WILL MANAGE

The Mandatory Deposit Management System will be managed by the Turkish Environment Agency (TÜÇA). The system consists of a multiple structure and various processes, including companies that will market disposable packaged products, retail industry players and consumers. The process will operate in a cycle that starts with the production of returnable packaging in accordance with the criteria determined by TÜÇA and placing it on the market, and ends with the collection of empty packaging and sending it to recycling facilities.

OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM

The system will work like this:

• Companies that market packaged beverages will register with the Deposit Information Management System. These companies will apply DYS logos on packaging with special security ink and printing technique.

• Turkish Environment Agency will make the regulation regarding the deposit price and announce it to the public.

• Companies will pay the deposit cost of each product they put on the market to the Turkish Environment Agency. Companies will collect this deposit amount transferred to the system by selling products to sales points such as markets and grocery stores.

• Sales points such as markets and grocery stores will also collect the deposit fee when selling the packaged products they purchase to consumers by paying the deposit fee.

• The most important stage for the healthy functioning of the Deposit Management System will be the part where consumers participate in the system. After consuming the disposable packaged products they purchased by paying the deposit fee, consumers will be able to get their deposit fees back through the DBYS Mobile Application when they return the empty packages to the deposit return machines.

• The next part of the process will of course be a little more technical and independent of consumers. But the real contribution to the economy starts here.

• There will be Deposit Return Machines at the points where empty packages from consumers are received and deposit amounts are refunded. The machines will separate the packages and receive them. Empty returnable packages will be delivered to warehouse/transfer centers, verification facilities and finally recycling facilities by empty packaging carriers with the authorization of TÜÇA. Scrap revenue, determined according to the type and amount of materials recycled within the system, will be transferred to the system as income.

THE SYSTEM HAS A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY

DYS makes significant contributions to human health and economy, especially the environment. Recycling and recovery of waste, one of the important players of the circular economy, has now become very important all over the world. In fact, waste is considered an important resource for the economies of countries.

With the implementation of the Deposit Management System, 20-25 billion packages will be recycled in the first stage. In this way, 37 thousand tons of greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced, while 1.3 billion kWh of energy and 3.6 million barrels of oil will be saved. It will provide a clean recycling opportunity in industry.

Within the scope of the project, 100 billion lira will be saved and direct employment opportunities will be created for 20 thousand citizens in a 20-year period.

Contribution to production and employment will be made by using imported raw materials in production again. A significant contribution to the management of the current account deficit will be made by significantly reducing the annual import volume of approximately 150-200 million dollars for the raw materials of beverage packaging introduced to the market.