Turkey unveils Roadmap for Single Use Plastics, Marine Litter and Microplastics
Turkey has unveiled a comprehensive “Roadmap on Single-Use Plastics, Marine Litter and Microplastics”, laying out a strategy to reduce disposable plastics, strengthen recycling systems, and bring national waste policy into line with European Union standards. The action plan, announced by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, combines legislative reforms with industry obligations and public awareness measures.
Short-Term (2025–2027)
In the immediate term, the government will implement a National Plastics Strategy and Action Plan, supported by regulations to restrict or ban specific single-use plastic products (SUPs). Among the first targets are food packaging and beverage containers.
Producers will face fee-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations, requiring them to fund recycling and waste management systems. Beverage packaging in particular will be redesigned:
- Specific design requirements for beverage containers and bottles will be identified, including the integration of recycled and recyclable content and the attachment of the cap to the container will be ensured.
- The hospitality and tourism industries — including hotels, restaurants, and cafés — will be encouraged via voluntary programmes to shift toward sustainable packaging, i.e. reusable and refillable alternatives.
Public awareness campaigns, coordinated with NGOs, municipalities, and the private sector, will target all age groups to educate consumers about the impact of single-use plastics and promote alternatives.
Medium-Term (2028–2032)
The medium-term plan focuses on aligning Turkey’s waste legislation with EU rules. The Regulation on the Control of Packaging Waste will be revised to introduce stricter recycling targets. The highlight is a commitment to raise the separate collection rate for PET bottles first to 77% and then to 90% by 2032.
- Revision of Regulation on Control of Packaging Waste in line with the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Packaging and Packaging Waste
- Within the scope of the legislation to be prepared on single-use plastics: Meeting the requirements for separate collection of first 77 % and then 90% of PET beverage bottles placed on the market; Ensuring labelling requirements for beverage containers, single products, wet wipes and tobacco products, including the presence of plastic and its impact on the environment; Awareness raising measures on the environmental impacts of SUP and promotion of reusable alternatives will be ensured.
- Regulation for prioritisation and measures (restrictions, reusable products, non-plastic disposable products, etc.) for domestic and imported single-use plastic products that are outside the scope of the Single-Use Plastics Directive and offered for sale in the Turkish market, taking their consumption in the HORECA, tourism, textile, retail, transport and agriculture sectors into consideration
- Providing high quality drinking water to rural and urban areas by improving drinking water facilities to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles
- Establishment of a digital data collection infrastructure for production, consumption and waste generation by sectors, import and export quantities in
order to establish effective measures for the management of single-use plastics will be ensured.
Long-Term: Beyond 2033
Looking further ahead, the roadmap sets its sights on embedding circular business models into Turkey’s economy. The goal is to normalise reuse and refill systems, supported by research and development funding for sustainable alternatives and recycled materials.
Key long-term actions include:
- Dissemination of circular business models such as reuse and refilling and good practices
- Development of the capacity to test for biodegradability and compostability in accordance with international standards and conditions and encouragement of
the testing - Encouraging R&D and P&D activities and innovations to design alternative products to single-use plastics to be reusable, refillable, to use alternative inputs or recycled materials or to be recyclable
- Adding single-use plastic product alternatives to Green Public Procurement Strategies in line with the Twelfth Development Plan’s call to update national public procurement policies to include Green Public Procurement (GPP) principles will be ensured.
In addition to these measures, the roadmap also places emphasis on reducing marine litter and microplastics, with monitoring, regulation, and awareness initiatives aimed at protecting ecosystems and public health.
Visit the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change