“Zero Waste” is a goal defined as a waste management philosophy that involves preventing the wastage, using the resources more efficiently, identifying the root causes of wastage, preventing or minimizing waste formation, and collecting and recovering waste at the source separately.

In 2017, Turkey announced its "Zero Waste Policy" and started implementation under the management of Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. With the Zero Waste Policy, Turkey aims to increase countrywide recycling rate of domestic solid waste by %35 by 2023. Improved public awareness and waste management at all levels of the society is the focus of the policy. Targets are planned to be achieved through engagement of local authorities, public-private organizations and citizens.

*Turkey uses around 10 million tons of glass, plastic, metal and aluminum packaging every year.

*Concern of damage to the environment caused by wide use of single-use plastics, low awareness level of waste treatment, lack of investment, regulation and policies against waste treatment.

*Nation wide awareness raising campaigns on waste treatment from paper to food for all ages; supporting the campaign with curriculum development on circularity and educating children; public campaigns through municipalities for citizen engagement.

*Applying a fee for plastic shopping bags

*Providing separation tools and guidelines for all municipalities, hospitals, all educational institutions, shopping malls, business centers, airports, public transportation stations, Industrial zones, restaurants and households.

*All buildings and premises which launch Zero Waste Management System are obliged to obtain Zero Waste Certificate in either four categories; basic, silver, platinum and gold.

*Deposit Refund System, planned to start in 2023, aims to recover and recycle plastic packaging by collecting them from consumers and giving shopping credits or refunds on the amount of deposited material.

*The Zero-Waste Policy is adopted by all 81 cities of Turkey.

*Between 2017 to 2020, the project helped save 397 million tons of raw material, 315 million kilowatt-hour of energy, 345 million cubic meters of water and 50 million barrels of oil.

*In the same period, 17 million tons of usable waste was collected.

*2 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions were prevented, and 209 million trees were saved by the policy implementation.

*The economic savings attained with these actions are calculated 17 billion liras (over 3 billion dollars).

*Plastic bag usage drastically dropped by 75% between 2019-2021; as a result, the initiative prevented 354.000 tons of plastic being wasted.

*UNDP awarded awarded Zero-Waste Project with "Sustainable Development Goals Action Awards" for successfully meeting the goal of Responsible Consumption and Production according to 2030 agenda.