President Erdoğan Marks International Zero Waste Day with 90M Tons of Recovered Waste and $11.3B Economic Boost

Turkish President Erdoğan highlights the recovery of 90M tons of waste and a 365B lira economic gain through Türkiye's global Zero Waste initiative.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 12:36 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Anadolu Agency World.

A National Initiative Goes Global

The "Zero Waste Movement," originally launched in 2017 under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, has evolved from a domestic sustainability project into a globally recognized environmental model. Speaking on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, President Erdoğan emphasized that the initiative's success was the driving force behind the UN General Assembly’s 2022 decision to designate March 30 as International Zero Waste Day. The program focuses on reducing waste at the source, improving separation at the point of disposal, and maximizing the lifecycle of materials to foster a circular economy.

Economic and Environmental Milestones

The recovery of 90 million tons of waste represents a significant milestone for Türkiye’s industrial and environmental sectors. By reintroducing these materials into the production cycle, the nation has generated 365 billion Turkish lira in economic value. This fiscal benefit is coupled with a reduced reliance on raw material imports and a lower national carbon footprint. Erdoğan noted that these efforts are central to Türkiye’s broader strategy for combating environmental pollution and meeting international climate obligations.

Ambitious Roadmaps for 2035 and 2053

Türkiye has set aggressive long-term goals to maintain the momentum of the Zero Waste Movement. The President outlined a roadmap that aims to increase the national recycling rate to 60% by 2035, with a further target of 70% by 2053. Achieving these figures will require a continued expansion of waste management infrastructure across all 81 provinces and a deepening of public awareness campaigns. The government plans to integrate more advanced AI-driven sorting technologies and expand the "Zero Waste Blue" initiative, which specifically targets marine litter and coastal preservation.