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Türkiye Advances 2053 Circular Plastics Strategy After National Waste Workshop
A two-day national workshop involving about 600 participants and representatives connected to 17 ministries outlined priorities for recycling, source-separated collection, advanced processing technologies and plastics monitoring as Türkiye develops its 2053 Plastic Vision ahead of COP31.
By Paul Ploumis
Published September 3, 2026
Key Points
- About 600 representatives participated in the Türkiye Plastic Waste Workshop in Istanbul on August 31 and September 1.
- The workshop examined Türkiye's plastics system through 15 working groups and is intended to contribute to the country's 2053 Plastic Vision.
- Participants prioritized recycled-material use, source-separated collection, mechanical and advanced recycling, and stronger tracking and certification systems.
- Recommendations also included reducing single-use plastics and expanding the use of digital and artificial-intelligence tools for monitoring.
- The workshop forms part of preparations for COP31, which Türkiye is scheduled to host from November 9–20, 2026.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): Türkiye is moving ahead with a nationwide effort to reduce plastic pollution and build a more circular plastics industry following a two-day workshop that brought together approximately 600 representatives from government, local authorities, academia, civil society and industry.
The Türkiye Plastic Waste Workshop, organized by the Zero Waste Foundation in Istanbul on August 31 and September 1, examined the country's plastics system through 15 specialist working groups. Representatives associated with 17 ministries took part alongside local governments, universities, private-sector organizations and civil-society groups.
The discussions considered the full plastics life cycle, extending from raw materials, product design and production through consumption, reuse, collection, recycling, recovery and the use of secondary raw materials.
Workshop Findings Feed Into 2053 Plastics Strategy
The workshop findings are expected to support development of the 2053 Türkiye Plastic Vision and the country's preparations for COP31. Türkiye is scheduled to host the climate conference from November 9–20, 2026.
The Zero Waste Foundation said the recommendations developed during the workshop will be followed up with support from 17 ministries as the findings are translated into policy and implementation measures.
The process is intended to connect regional and sector-specific experience with national policy as Türkiye develops a broader approach to plastic pollution and circular-economy planning.
Recycling, Collection and Material Quality Emerge as Priorities
Participants called for wider use of recycled materials, better source-separated collection and greater investment in advanced recycling technologies.
They also emphasized the need for improved material-tracking systems and stronger testing and certification facilities. Expansion of mechanical recycling, together with development of chemical and other advanced technologies, could reduce dependence on imported raw materials, participants said.
The emphasis on testing, traceability and certification reflects a broader effort to increase the amount of recovered plastic that can return to production as secondary raw material rather than remain in lower-value waste streams.
Single-Use Plastics and Digital Monitoring Also Targeted
The workshop highlighted the need to gradually reduce single-use plastics and strengthen enforcement measures.
Participants also recommended wider use of digital technologies and artificial-intelligence techniques to improve data collection, tracking and monitoring across the plastics system.
The proposals place waste prevention, collection, recycling technology and monitoring within the same national framework rather than treating plastics recycling solely as an end-of-life waste-management issue.
Türkiye Targets Regional Circular Plastics Hub by 2053
Türkiye ultimately aims to develop the country into a regional circular plastics and recycling hub by 2053.
The workshop's recommendations are expected to contribute to that longer-term strategy by linking plastics production and consumption with collection, recycling, secondary raw-material use and pollution prevention.
