Türkiye bans household oil disposal ahead of COP31, targeting 25% of domestic pollution

TÜRKIYE – Türkiye has moved to ban households from pouring used vegetable oils down sinks or drains, as part of the Zero Waste initiative led by first lady Emine Erdoğan, ahead of hosting the UN Climate Change Conference COP31.

The revised draft regulation prohibits disposal of vegetable waste oils into sinks, sewers, the sea, or any other receiving environment.

Citizens will be required to deliver used oils to municipal collection points, waste drop-off centers, or participating retail outlets.

Municipalities will establish collection systems including direct home pickup and mobile centers.

By the Numbers: The Environmental Toll

According to experts, one liter of waste oil poured down a sink can contaminate one million liters of drinking water, equivalent to the annual water consumption of approximately 15 people.

Waste oils account for an estimated 25 percent of domestic water pollution across Türkiye.

Commercial kitchens, including restaurants, hotels, and food factories, will be classified as “vegetable waste oil producers” and must maintain at least one-year contracts with licensed biorefineries.

Supermarkets will accept sealed containers of waste oil, while packaging will carry clear warnings: “Do not pour used oils into sinks.”

From Waste to Fuel: The Circular Path

Collected oils will be sent exclusively to licensed biorefineries for conversion into biodiesel or sustainable aviation fuel. Direct blending into fuel, cooking oils, or use in animal feed or cosmetics is strictly prohibited.

The Zero Waste initiative, launched in 2017, has already achieved significant milestones. More than 60 percent of municipalities have implemented zero waste systems, with over 200,000 buildings certified.

The initiative has diverted approximately 24 million tonnes of waste from landfills, saving an estimated 22 million trees and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6.5 million tonnes annually.

COP31 Context

Türkiye will host COP31 in 2026, the first UN Climate Change Conference to be held in the country.

The government has positioned the Zero Waste initiative as a cornerstone of its climate diplomacy, with first lady Emine Erdoğan serving as a global advocate.

The United Nations Development Programme has recognized Türkiye’s integrated waste management approach as a replicable model for other nations.

What This Means for Waste Management

By diverting a relatively small volume of waste, household cooking oil accounts for an estimated 1-2 percent of total waste oil volumes but contributes disproportionately to water pollution, the regulation addresses a critical environmental hazard while establishing collection infrastructure.

As Türkiye prepares to showcase its environmental credentials at COP31, the message is clear: effective waste management begins at home.

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