Ban on single-use plastics is on the horizon: Here are the products to be removed
A comprehensive regulation targeting single-use plastic products is being prepared in Turkey. With the new regulation, many products such as plastic forks, plates, straws, and foam containers will be banned, aiming to reduce the use of plastics that harm the environment.
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A new regulation prepared to reduce plastic waste in Turkey is coming to the agenda. The draft regulation, prepared in line with the "Zero Waste" approach, has been shaped to be compatible with the regulations on single-use plastics that the European Union put into effect in 2019. The draft text is planned to be opened for the opinions of public institutions and non-governmental organizations in the coming days.
The regulation, which is expected to come into force within this year, aims to reduce environmental impacts by limiting the use of many plastic products that are widely used in daily life.
FIRST BAN LIST: WHICH PRODUCTS ARE BEING REMOVED?
The prepared regulation targets single-use plastics that do not decompose in nature for a long time and constitute a significant portion of marine pollution. In the first phase, the supply and use of certain products will end.
Products planned to be banned within this scope include:
- Plastic forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, and plates
- Food containers and beverage cups made of foam (EPS) material
- Plastic-stemmed cotton swabs
- Balloon sticks and straws
- Beverage stirrers made entirely of plastic
Officials state that the goal is to promote the use of eco-friendly alternatives such as glass, porcelain, wood, or cardboard instead of these products.
The new regulation is expected to not only provide environmental benefits but also generate economic gains. According to ministry data, significant results will emerge if the practice is implemented.
The projected impacts include the following highlights:
- Preventing approximately 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions each year
- Saving approximately 1.5 billion TL annually in waste management processes
- Reducing dependence on imports for plastic raw materials
Public opinion polls show that there is strong social support for limiting single-use plastics. In the study conducted with TurkStat (TÜİK), it was observed that the majority of citizens welcome this step.
According to the research results:
- 77.6% of participants support the reduction of single-use plastics.
- 76.4% find the restriction of products such as straws, plates, and forks beneficial.
- With the implementation of charging for plastic bags, 3 million tons of waste have been prevented and 42 billion TL has been saved since 2019.
NEW STEPS ARE ON THE WAY
The planned transformation will not be limited to kitchen utensils. In the coming period, additional measures for different product groups will also come to the agenda.
In this context;
- Beverage cups and food containers containing plastic
- All shipping bags
- Additional practices such as reduction targets and warning labels for products like wet wipes and cleaning towels will be evaluated.