Zero Waste Regulation: What Are Businesses' Obligations?
This guide is written for business owners and managers who are wondering whether they fall within the scope of the Sıfır Atık Yönetmeliği (Zero Waste Regulation), or who already know they are required to set up the system. In plain language, it explains what the regulation expects from businesses, the steps involved in setting up the system, which records need to be kept ready, and the mistakes that are frequently seen in practice.
What Is the Zero Waste Regulation and Which Businesses Does It Cover?
The Zero Waste Regulation is a piece of legislation that governs the prevention of waste, the separate collection of waste at source and its recovery, and it concerns a wide range of organisations, from public institutions to private businesses. The aim is not simply to collect waste, but to reduce waste, use resources efficiently and keep the amount of waste sent to landfill to a minimum.
The regulation defines the buildings and premises that are required to set up a zero waste management system and has brought them into scope in stages. Alongside public buildings, these include shopping centres, hotels and other accommodation facilities, healthcare institutions, educational institutions, organised industrial zones, fuel stations, terminals and workplaces above a certain size.
To confirm whether your business is within scope, the soundest approach is to review the current text of the regulation in force via the Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (Legislation Information System) or to seek expert advice. The logic of the system is also useful for small businesses that fall outside the scope; municipal separate collection schemes and the expectations of business partners may already require a similar arrangement.
How Is a Zero Waste System Set Up, Step by Step?
A zero waste system is set up through the following steps: assessing the current situation, appointing those responsible, arranging equipment and space, training, record-keeping and applying for the certificate. As each step builds on the output of the previous one, following the sequence makes the work easier.
1. Assessing the current situation
The first task is to identify which types of waste arise in the business, in which departments and in roughly what quantities. Areas such as the kitchen, offices, storage, production, gardens and technical services are examined one by one, and packaging waste, organic waste, waste oils, batteries, electronic waste and hazardous waste are noted separately. This assessment forms the basis for every later decision, from how many collection containers are needed to the size of the temporary storage area.
2. Appointing a responsible person and team
So that the system does not end up without an owner within the business, a responsible person is appointed and, where needed, a team with representatives from each department. These people monitor implementation, keep records, report problems to management and make sure corrective measures are taken.
3. Placing separate collection equipment
Collection containers, distinguished by colour and label according to waste type, are placed at the points where waste is generated. Separate streams are set up for paper, plastic, glass, metal, organic waste and hazardous waste; the number and location of containers are based on the assessment in the first step. Clear, easy-to-understand labels are the first requirement for correct sorting.
4. Creating a temporary storage area
Separately collected waste is kept in a temporary storage area that complies with the legislation until it is handed over to an authorised collector or the municipality. The flooring, roofing, ventilation and compartments for different waste types in this area are important. Hazardous waste should be kept apart from other waste, labelled and secured against leaks.
5. Staff training and awareness
Employees are told about the purpose of the system, which waste goes into which container and their responsibilities within their own department. Repeating the training for new starters and seasonal staff is decisive for the continuity of the system.
6. Records, declarations and handover
The quantities of waste generated and handed over are recorded regularly and declared to the Ministry's relevant information systems. Waste must be handed over only to licensed or authorised companies, and handover documents must be kept.
7. Applying for the Zero Waste Certificate
Once the system has been set up and is working, the business applies for the Sıfır Atık Belgesi (Zero Waste Certificate) by demonstrating that it meets the required criteria. The application and assessment are carried out in line with the legislation in force and the practice of the competent authority.
Documents to Prepare and a Checklist
For the certificate application and any inspections, records showing that the system has been set up and is actually working need to be kept ready. The list below is a starting point for a business to check its own position:
A current situation assessment showing waste types, the departments where they arise and approximate quantities
Appointment details for the zero waste officer and team members
A layout plan showing the location and type of collection equipment
Information and photographs of the temporary storage area
Records of staff training, including dates, topics and participants
Contracts with licensed companies to which waste is handed over, and handover documents
Records of waste declarations made to the information systems
Records relating to the labelling and storage arrangements for hazardous waste
Notes on regular internal checks and the corrective measures taken
Keeping these records together in one place, whether in a folder or digitally, makes both the application and inspection preparation easier. Keeping records up to date also prevents information from being lost when staff change.
Common Mistakes and Points to Watch
A problem often seen in practice is the belief that a zero waste system amounts to nothing more than placing collection bins. If containers are put in place but employees are not informed, waste is still collected mixed together and sorting becomes pointless.
Similarly, if separately collected waste is mixed again at the handover point, the system is rendered ineffective. For this reason, it is not only the internal arrangement that needs checking, but the whole chain up to the point where the waste is handed over. Other points to watch include:
Keeping hazardous waste such as paint tins, chemical packaging, waste oils and fluorescent lamps in the same area as other waste
Giving waste to unlicensed individuals or companies
Not making declarations regularly, or declarations not matching the quantities in the records
Providing training only once and not repeating it when staff change
Not monitoring the system after the certificate is obtained, and gradually slipping back into old habits
Zero waste should not be seen merely as a legal obligation. A properly established system can help reduce waste costs and raw material waste, indirectly help lower the corporate carbon footprint, and also build trust with customers and business partners.
Notes for Businesses in Antalya
In Antalya, zero waste obligations particularly concern businesses in tourism, agriculture and food, construction and trade. Because of the region's economic structure, the types and quantities of waste can vary markedly by season and sector.
In hotels and accommodation facilities, organic kitchen waste, packaging waste and waste vegetable oils stand out. As staff turnover is high at the start of the season, it is important to renew training every season and to review the storage area in line with the increase in waste volumes.
In greenhouses, packing facilities and food businesses, plastic sheeting, packaging and pesticide containers, which need to be treated as hazardous waste, should be managed separately. On construction sites, excavation and demolition waste may be subject to its own separate regulations; a separate collection arrangement should also be set up for waste generated in site offices and welfare areas.
You may also like to read our article Waste Management and Zero Waste in Businesses: A Step-by-Step Guide, where we cover the general framework of waste management and its relationship with zero waste in more detail. You can find out how we support the setup and follow-up of the system on our waste management service page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it mandatory to obtain a Zero Waste Certificate?
For buildings and premises within the scope of the regulation, setting up a zero waste management system and documenting it is mandatory. Whether your business is within scope is determined by its type of activity, its size and the regulations in force. Businesses outside the scope may also set up the system voluntarily.
Is a small business included in the zero waste system?
The position of small businesses depends on the types of building listed in the regulation and on where they are located. For example, businesses inside a shopping centre or office building may be required to comply with that building's zero waste system. To find out your exact position, you need to check the current legislation or seek expert advice.
How long does it take to set up a zero waste system?
The time needed varies with the size of the business, the variety of its waste and its existing infrastructure, so it would not be accurate to give a fixed timeframe. If the current situation assessment is done well and those responsible are appointed from the outset, the process becomes considerably easier.
Who should we hand separately collected waste over to?
Separately collected waste should be handed over to the municipal collection system or to companies licensed for the relevant waste type. Keeping handover documents is important both for the accuracy of your declarations and for any inspections.
Conclusion
When set up correctly, a zero waste system ensures legal compliance and also improves the day-to-day running of the business. Contact us to clarify your business's obligations and to set up the system step by step.
Written by Selin Sevinç, Environmental Engineer (MSc), Asel Çevre Danışmanlık.
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