Operational Expansion in DOA System: Bulk Refund Infrastructure Deployed

The DOA System, coordinated by the Turkey Environmental Agency (TÜÇA), has entered a strategic expansion phase to manage surging recycling volumes and strengthen the circular economy infrastructure.

New Incentive Model for High-Volume Returns

Newly established "Counting and Verification Centers" have been launched to centralize bulk individual returns and increase the operational capacity of the system. The financial incentive structure for this new channel is as follows:

■Citizens accumulating high volumes of DOA-branded packaging can now submit their returns directly to the new specialized centers.

■The incentive rate for these bulk returns has been set at 0.50 TRY per unit of packaging.

■Users can access real-time information regarding the nearest verification hubs via the DOA Mobile App and Call Center.

Continuity of the Automated Deposit Machine Tier

The introduction of the new centers is designed to complement, rather than replace, the existing automated deposit machine ecosystem. The micro-return model remains in effect under the following conditions:

■For individual returns up to a daily limit of 200 units, the incentive rate remains at 1 TRY per unit.

■Existing DOA machines will continue to provide rapid, instant liquidity for low-volume users.

Strategic Objectives in Operational Efficiency

TÜÇA President Nurullah Öztürk emphasized that the primary objective of the new implementation is to establish a more effective and efficient management model in response to increasing return volumes. As part of the national integration process, the agency aims to further strengthen the return infrastructure nationwide based on field feedback.

In circular economy models, achieving economies of scale is critical for reducing unit processing costs. The tiered incentive structure implemented by the DOA System—distinguishing between micro-scale machine returns and macro-scale bulk processing—is a rational macroeconomic move aimed at optimizing operational efficiency through volume-based differentiation.