Türkiye Introduces Strict Waste Oil Disposal Ban

Türkiye Moves to Ban Household Waste Oil Disposal

Türkiye is strengthening its environmental policies ahead of hosting the U.N. Climate Change Conference COP31, with a strong focus on improving household waste management as part of its sustainability strategy.

Under the guidance of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, the country’s “Zero Waste” initiative is entering a new phase, targeting the proper collection and disposal of used vegetable oils.

New Regulation on Waste Oil Disposal

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has revised its draft regulation on vegetable waste oil management and submitted it for institutional review.

The new rules strictly prohibit households from pouring used vegetable oils into:

• Sinks and drainage systems
• Sewers
• The sea or any natural environment

Used oils must not be poured into sinks or any receiving environment.

How Citizens Will Dispose of Waste Oil

Residents will be required to deliver used oils to designated collection points, including:

• Municipal collection centers
• Waste drop-off locations
• Participating retail stores

Municipalities will create structured systems to collect waste oil, including:

• Home collection services
• Public collection points
• Mobile collection units

Role of Retailers and Packaging Rules

Supermarkets and similar outlets will be required to accept sealed containers of waste oil and transfer them to licensed processing facilities.

Packaging for vegetable oils will include clear warnings such as:

• “Do not pour used oils into sinks”

Industrial Use and Restrictions

Collected waste oils will only be sent to licensed facilities where they will be converted into:

• Biodiesel
• Sustainable aviation fuel

Direct use of collected oils in fuels, cooking products, animal feed, or cosmetics will be strictly prohibited.

Commercial Sector Regulations

Commercial kitchens such as restaurants, hotels, and food factories will be classified as “vegetable waste oil producers.”

These businesses will be required to maintain at least one-year contracts with:

• Biorefineries
• Licensed waste transfer centers

Environmental Impact

Experts highlight the serious environmental risks associated with improper disposal of waste oil.

One liter of waste oil poured into a sink can contaminate up to one million liters of drinking water.

This equals the annual water consumption of approximately 15 people.

Waste oils are estimated to account for around 25% of domestic water pollution.