Emine Erdoğan’s Zero Waste Project Recycles 90 Million Tons and Evolves into Global Environmental Standard

Led by Emine Erdoğan, Türkiye’s Zero Waste Project has recycled 90 million tons of waste and evolved into a UN-backed global movement for sustainability.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 10:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Anadolu Agency

The Institutional Evolution of a National Sustainability Vision

What began in 2017 as a targeted domestic initiative under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan has fundamentally reshaped Türkiye’s relationship with waste and sustainable development. Managed by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, the Zero Waste Project was designed to replace linear consumption patterns with a circular economy model. By the start of 2026, the program had successfully integrated the Zero Waste Management System into 217,000 buildings nationwide, ranging from government offices to schools and private cooperatives. This institutional rollout has been a primary driver in nearly tripling the national recycling rate from a mere 13% at the project's inception to over 37% by the end of 2025.

Quantifying the Economic and Ecological Dividends

The physical impact of the Zero Waste Project is reflected in staggering environmental data, with approximately 90 million tons of waste recycled by the end of 2025. These recovery efforts have injected 365 billion lira into the Turkish economy, illustrating that aggressive environmental policy can serve as a potent economic catalyst. The resulting energy savings are equivalent to the annual power consumption of 54 million households, while water conservation efforts have saved an amount equal to two years of Istanbul’s total water usage. Furthermore, the initiative has prevented 180 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, positioning Türkiye as a leader in climate-friendly industrial practices within the Eurasian region.

Expanding the Scope to Marine Preservation and Deposit Systems

In 2019, the project’s mandate expanded to include the "Zero Waste Blue" initiative, a targeted effort to protect Türkiye's coastlines and marine biodiversity. This program has successfully removed over 325,000 tons of marine debris, a feat that contributed to Türkiye ranking third globally with 577 Blue Flag beaches in 2025. Complementing these maritime efforts is the newly active Deposit Management System, which launched in 2025 and currently spans 53 provinces. By incentivizing the return of millions of packaging units, the system has created a closed-loop recycling stream that significantly reduces litter while providing tangible economic gains for participating citizens.