Cardboard in one corner of the plant, plastic strapping in another, a sawdust container outside. Waste contracts sit with different companies, weighbridge slips in different folders. When someone asks “is your zero waste system ready, and where are the records?”, the answer often depends on one person’s memory or one spreadsheet.
Turkey’s Zero Waste Regulation applies directly to manufacturers, but it has a few subtle points. This article covers what the regulation says for industrial plants, what the certificate does and does not cover, and how ERP data can bring order to your records.
What does the regulation cover?
The Zero Waste Regulation was published in the Official Gazette on 12 July 2019 (No. 30829) and amended on 9 October 2021. The competent authority is the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. It defines zero waste as preventing or reducing waste in production, consumption and service processes, together with separation at source, recycling and recovery.
Industrial plants, organized industrial zones (OIZs) and industrial estates are among those responsible for setting up and running the system. OIZ managements are also expected to coordinate the setup within their boundaries. Start dates depend on the list annexed to the regulation and its transitional provisions, so check which group your plant falls into in the text itself.
The most confused point: process waste
One provision matters a lot to manufacturers. Among waste generated by industrial facilities, process waste, except what is similar to household waste in content or structure, is not assessed under the zero waste certificate until the Ministry sets criteria.
In practice that reads as follows:
- Paper, glass, plastic and organic waste from offices and canteens, meaning household-type waste, is inside the system.
- Sawdust, cutting offcuts, used oil, solvents and sludge from production, meaning process waste, sit outside the certificate scope.
- Process waste does not stop being your responsibility. It is still managed under the Waste Management Regulation and other applicable legislation.
So “we have the certificate, waste is done” is an incomplete statement. You need records under two separate headings.
The Zero Waste Certificate: who issues it, how many levels?
The certificate is handled through the Ministry’s Zero Waste Information System and assessed at provincial level by the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. There are four levels: basic, silver, gold and platinum. It is valid for five years.
For many industrial plants the certificate looks like a voluntary step, but you should confirm for your own case whether your plant is on the regulation’s implementation list and what your local authority expects. Level criteria and application details are updated through Ministry announcements, so read current conditions from the official source.
Why records matter even without a certificate
Zero waste is not only a compliance matter, it is a commercial one:
- Cost. Separately collected packaging and scrap can earn revenue; mixed waste means disposal fees.
- Customer requests. Export customers may ask for waste and recycling data in supplier questionnaires. The question appears in almost every edition of sustainability reporting.
- Inspection. Waste contracts, transport documents and weighing records need to be consistent and in one place.
- Lost raw material. If scrap rates are high, the problem is in production, not at the waste yard.
How can ERP data help?
In many plants waste data and production data live apart, yet scrap, offcut and return records already exist in the ERP. Linking waste to that chain lets you see:
- How much scrap comes from which work order, machine and shift.
- Scrap sale income compared with disposal cost.
- Monthly quantity and cost by waste type.
- The match between the receiving company, the contract and the document number.
This means joining machine data, the weighbridge and stock movements; see our article on collecting production data from machines. A small start is enough: coding waste types and entering the weighbridge output into the ERP already saves far more effort than compiling the monthly report by hand.
Where to start
- Confirm in writing where your plant stands under the regulation and what your local authority expects.
- Split waste into two groups, household-type and process waste, and name an owner for each.
- Fix waste type codes; keep the weighing slip, contract and transport document in the same record.
- Link scrap and offcut movements to work orders in the ERP.
- Leave the certificate application for last, because you need clean data first.
Waste, energy and emissions data can come from the same infrastructure. That is the practical side of twin transition: measurement is built once and used for several compliance topics. At İkiz Eksen we bring experience from 550+ customers and 100+ ERP implementations to turnkey projects, from measurement to software to compliance, across Turkey. To map your current position together, see our solutions or get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the zero waste certificate mandatory for industry?
Who must hold it depends on the implementation list and transitional provisions. Industrial plants are treated as responsible for the system. Confirm your own plant’s position in the regulation text and with the provincial directorate.
Does my process waste fall under the certificate?
Under the regulation, process waste is not assessed under the certificate until the Ministry sets criteria. Household-type waste is in scope. Other legal obligations for process waste continue.
How long is the certificate valid and how many levels exist?
Five years, with four levels: basic, silver, gold and platinum. Check level criteria in the Ministry’s current announcements.
Can I keep waste records without an ERP?
Yes, but it gets harder as volumes grow. One table with waste type, quantity, company and document is enough to start. Linking it to production and scrap data in an ERP is the next step.
Does zero waste cost money or bring income?
Both are possible. Separately collected, sellable waste earns income; disposing of mixed waste costs money. Figures vary by plant and waste type, so calculate from your own records.
Sources: Zero Waste Regulation (Official Gazette, 12.07.2019, No. 30829) and the 09.10.2021 amendment; Waste Management Regulation (Official Gazette, 02.04.2015, No. 29314). Confirm current obligations and certificate criteria with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.